My article “Subterranean karst environments as a global sink for atmospheric methane” is officially available from Earth and Planetary Science Letters. The data presented in the article show that methanotrophic microorganisms in caves are actively consuming the greenhouse gas methane. In addition to oxidized atmospheric methane in cave air, we also observed methane entering the caves from two different methanogenic pathways, acetate fermentation and hydrogenotrophy. Out work shows that karst environments are behaving as a global methane sink.
Recommended citation.
Webster KD, Drobniak A, Etiope G, Mastalerz M, Sauer PE, Schimmelmann A. (2017). Subterranean karst environments as a global sink for atmospheric methane. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 485, 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.12.025
Kevin D. Webster, Ph.D. 