Contribution of tundra lakes in western Siberia to the atmospheric methane budget

The emission of methane from tundra lakes in western Siberia is estimated on the basis of experimental data. According to these estimates, over the warm season, the methane flux from the surfaces of lakes to the atmosphere amounts to 0.5 KtCH₄ for Arctic tundra, 2.9 KtCH₄ for typical tundra, and 8.5 KtCH₄ for southern tundra. The short-term spring emission of methane as ice melts in tundra lakes of the region under consideration is determined with consideration for published estimates of the rate of generation of methane in northern-latitude lakes during the cold season. The contribution made by tundra lakes in western Siberia to the atmospheric methane budget is estimated at 20 KtCH₄/year.