Environmental Studies and Forestry

Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams

Y. Zhu, J. I. Jones, et al.

This groundbreaking research, conducted by Yizhu Zhu and colleagues, uncovers the alarming impact of fine sediment excess in UK headwater streams, leading to a dramatic tripling of methane emissions. The study highlights the urgent need for effective catchment management to reduce these emissions by up to 70%.

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Abstract

Headwater streams are natural methane sources but face anthropogenic disturbances like land use change and climate warming. Intensified agriculture since the 1940s increased fine sediment export, impacting stream methane. This study reveals widespread excess fine sediment in UK streams, increasing streambed organic matter and tripling methane emissions. While streambed methane production strongly responds to organic matter, warming's effect is comparatively modest. Separating natural and human-enhanced emissions shows that catchment management targeting excess fine sediment could mitigate stream methane emissions by about 70%.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Jul 01, 2022

Authors

Yizhu Zhu, J. Iwan Jones, Adrian L. Collins, Yusheng Zhang, Louise Olde, Lorenzo Rovelli, John F. Murphy, Catherine M. Heppell, Mark Trimmer