Reduced methane emissions in former permafrost soils

A new paper shows that ecosystem changes following permafrost thawing can lead to a10-fold decrease in methane emissions. This appears to be due to increased drainage and a deeper aeration zone, which has increased methane oxidation and thereby markedly reduced the net methane emissions. Findings highlight the importance of hydrological, vegetation and microbial specific responses when studying long-term effects of climate change on methane emissions. Read more in a recent Global Change Biology paper.