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Abstract
Atmospheric methane concentrations decreased during the early to middle Holocene; however, the governing mechanisms remain controversial. Although it has been suggested that the mid-Holocene minimum methane emissions are associated with hydrological change, direct evidence is lacking. Here we report a new independent approach, linking hydrological change in peat sediments from the Tibetan Plateau to changes in archaeal diether concentrations and diploptene 13 C values as tracers for methanogenesis and methanotrophy, respectively. A minimum in inferred methanogenesis occurred during the mid-Holocene, which, locally, corresponds with the driest conditions of the Holocene, reflecting a minimum in Asian monsoon precipitation. The close coupling between precipitation and methanogenesis is validated by climate simulations, which also suggest a regionally widespread impact. Importantly, the minimum in methanogenesis is associated with a maximum in methanotrophy. Therefore, methane emissions in the Tibetan Plateau region were apparently lower during the mid-Holocene and partially controlled by interactions of large-scale atmospheric circulation. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 4631 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 19 Aug 2014 |
Structured keywords
- Cabot Institute Environmental Change Research
Keywords
- QINGHAI-TIBETAN PLATEAU
- NORTH-ATLANTIC CLIMATE
- ATMOSPHERIC METHANE
- NATURAL WETLANDS
- VASCULAR PLANTS
- POLLEN RECORD
- EMISSIONS
- CHINA
- BIOMARKERS
- VEGETATION
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