Articles | Volume 15, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1627-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1627-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Apr 2021
Research article |
| 01 Apr 2021
| 01 Apr 2021
Heterogeneous CO2 and CH4 content of glacial meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet and implications for subglacial carbon processes
Andrea J. Pain
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
now at: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,
Horn Point Lab, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
Jonathan B. Martin
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Ellen E. Martin
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Åsa K. Rennermalm
Department of Geography, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,
Piscataway NJ 08854, USA
Shaily Rahman
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
now at: Department of Marine
Science, University of Southern Mississippi, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Methylotrophic Communities Associated with a Greenland Ice Sheet Methane Release Hotspot M. Znamínko et al. 10.1007/s00248-023-02302-x
- Supraglacial Soils and Soil-Like Bodies: Diversity, Genesis, Functioning (Review) N. Mergelov et al. 10.1134/S1064229323602330
- Dissolved inorganic carbon budget of two alpine catchments in the central Tibetan Plateau: Glaciation matters Z. Yu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165191
- Potential of submerged macrophytes restoration for reducing CH4 and CO2 emissions in a typical urban lake Y. Yin et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124919
- Clumped isotope measurements reveal aerobic oxidation of methane below the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.009
- The marine methane cycle in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during summer A. D'Angelo et al. 10.1016/j.polar.2024.101128
- Isotopic composition and emission characteristics of CO2 and CH4 in glacial lakes of the Tibetan Plateau F. Yan et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/aceb7b
- Methane emissions from subglacial meltwater of three alpine glaciers in Yukon, Canada S. Sapper et al. 10.1080/15230430.2023.2284456
- The Biogeochemical Legacy of Arctic Subglacial Sediments Exposed by Glacier Retreat P. Vinšová et al. 10.1029/2021GB007126
- Proglacial methane emissions driven by meltwater and groundwater flushing in a high-Arctic glacial catchment G. Kleber et al. 10.5194/bg-22-659-2025
- Effects of growth and decline of cyanobacteria on CH<sub>4</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> emission fluxes and their source pathways in sediment-water system of Lake Taihu, China W. Mingjie et al. 10.18307/2025.0214
- Supraglacial Soils and Soil-Like Bodies: Diversity, Genesis, Functioning (Review) N. Mergelov et al. 10.31857/S0032180X23601494
- Atmospheric CO2 sink caused by enhanced chemical weathering in the Rongbuk glacier runoff at the initial ablation, Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) H. Qiu et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133200
- Catchment characteristics and seasonality control the composition of microbial assemblages exported from three outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet K. Vrbická et al. 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1035197
- Intra-seasonal variability in supraglacial stream sediment on the Greenland Ice Sheet S. Leidman et al. 10.3389/feart.2023.969629
- Carbon Emissions From the Edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet Reveal Subglacial Processes of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Turnover J. Christiansen et al. 10.1029/2021JG006308
- Characteristics of methane and carbon dioxide in ice caves at a high-mountain glacier of China Z. Du et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174074
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Methylotrophic Communities Associated with a Greenland Ice Sheet Methane Release Hotspot M. Znamínko et al. 10.1007/s00248-023-02302-x
- Supraglacial Soils and Soil-Like Bodies: Diversity, Genesis, Functioning (Review) N. Mergelov et al. 10.1134/S1064229323602330
- Dissolved inorganic carbon budget of two alpine catchments in the central Tibetan Plateau: Glaciation matters Z. Yu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165191
- Potential of submerged macrophytes restoration for reducing CH4 and CO2 emissions in a typical urban lake Y. Yin et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124919
- Clumped isotope measurements reveal aerobic oxidation of methane below the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.009
- The marine methane cycle in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during summer A. D'Angelo et al. 10.1016/j.polar.2024.101128
- Isotopic composition and emission characteristics of CO2 and CH4 in glacial lakes of the Tibetan Plateau F. Yan et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/aceb7b
- Methane emissions from subglacial meltwater of three alpine glaciers in Yukon, Canada S. Sapper et al. 10.1080/15230430.2023.2284456
- The Biogeochemical Legacy of Arctic Subglacial Sediments Exposed by Glacier Retreat P. Vinšová et al. 10.1029/2021GB007126
- Proglacial methane emissions driven by meltwater and groundwater flushing in a high-Arctic glacial catchment G. Kleber et al. 10.5194/bg-22-659-2025
- Effects of growth and decline of cyanobacteria on CH<sub>4</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> emission fluxes and their source pathways in sediment-water system of Lake Taihu, China W. Mingjie et al. 10.18307/2025.0214
- Supraglacial Soils and Soil-Like Bodies: Diversity, Genesis, Functioning (Review) N. Mergelov et al. 10.31857/S0032180X23601494
- Atmospheric CO2 sink caused by enhanced chemical weathering in the Rongbuk glacier runoff at the initial ablation, Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) H. Qiu et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133200
- Catchment characteristics and seasonality control the composition of microbial assemblages exported from three outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet K. Vrbická et al. 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1035197
- Intra-seasonal variability in supraglacial stream sediment on the Greenland Ice Sheet S. Leidman et al. 10.3389/feart.2023.969629
- Carbon Emissions From the Edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet Reveal Subglacial Processes of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Turnover J. Christiansen et al. 10.1029/2021JG006308
- Characteristics of methane and carbon dioxide in ice caves at a high-mountain glacier of China Z. Du et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174074
Latest update: 18 Apr 2025
Short summary
The greenhouse gases (GHGs) methane and carbon dioxide can be produced or consumed by geochemical processes under the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). Chemical signatures and concentrations of GHGs in GrIS discharge show that organic matter remineralization produces GHGs in some locations, but mineral weathering dominates and consumes CO2 in other locations. Local processes will therefore determine whether melting of the GrIS is a positive or negative feedback on climate change driven by GHG forcing.
The greenhouse gases (GHGs) methane and carbon dioxide can be produced or consumed by...
