Preliminary data on the methane emission from lake seeps of the Western Siberia permafrost zone

Abstract Lakes are one of the most important sources of the greenhouse gas methane. Usually, only diffusive emission is counted towards in estimates of the Arctic lakes contribution to the atmospheric methane budget. At the same time, for some regions, giving the importance for the ebullition of various genesis significantly increases previous assessments of ecosystem-based lake methane emission. This paper presents the results of a study of two gas seeps on the Central Yamal lake. The methane concentration in seep gas varies from 94.2 to 100%. Mean annual methane emission from each seep is estimated as 46.1 and 67.1 kgCH4per year respectively. According to the analysis of the methane isotopic composition, it is of biogenic origin. Studied gas seeps are obviously direct channels of methane emission from permafrost to the atmosphere.