Articles | Volume 22, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-659-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-659-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Feb 2025
Research article |
| 06 Feb 2025
| 06 Feb 2025
Proglacial methane emissions driven by meltwater and groundwater flushing in a high-Arctic glacial catchment
Gabrielle E. Kleber
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, 9170, Norway
Department of Geoscience, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9010, Norway
Leonard Magerl
Department of Geoscience, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9010, Norway
Alexandra V. Turchyn
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
Stefan Schloemer
BGR – Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hanover 30655, Germany
Mark Trimmer
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
Yizhu Zhu
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Andrew Hodson
Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, 9170, Norway
Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, 6856, Norway
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Cited
14 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Probing dissolved CO 2 and CH 4 in glacial streams of the European Alps M. Dalvai Ragnoli et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2025.2580737
- Proglacial wetlands: an overlooked CO2 sink within recently deglaciated landscapes S. van Grinsven et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-441-2026
- Fluorescence sensing of pentachlorophenol in tap water using natural C–Phycocyanin Z. Kılıç & M. Durmuş https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2026.127984
- Subglacial geology and thermal conditions regulate methane emissions from Svalbard glaciers G. Kleber et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77190-z
- Spatiotemporal variability and environmental controls on aquatic methane emissions in an Arctic permafrost catchment M. Thayne et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-477-2026
- Microbial oxidation significantly reduces methane export from global groundwaters B. Heinze et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2508773122
- Impact of glacial-interglacial cycles on the groundwater system of the Lofoten-Vesterålen continental margin, Norway, since the Last Interglacial S. Hietbrink et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02994-0
- Anatomy and impact of a high Arctic atmospheric river driving extreme winter rain and snowfall H. Bailey et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4421-2026
- Radiocarbon and bulk isotope composition of subglacial methane and carbon dioxide emitted at the western margin of the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.12.026
- Low methane supersaturation observed in southwestern Greenland fjords C. Hassler et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1797236
- Surging glaciers in Svalbard: Observing their distribution, characteristics and evolution W. Harcourt et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105410
- Quality of meltwater in terms of potential use in swimming pool facilities E. Kudlek et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101052
- Submarine groundwater discharge and gas hydrate dissociation fuel organic matter formation in Arctic fjord sediments B. Szymczycha et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2025.104570
- Glacial meltwater-driven suppression of riverine methane emissions in the high-altitude cryospheric regions J. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136372
14 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Probing dissolved CO 2 and CH 4 in glacial streams of the European Alps M. Dalvai Ragnoli et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2025.2580737
- Proglacial wetlands: an overlooked CO2 sink within recently deglaciated landscapes S. van Grinsven et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-441-2026
- Fluorescence sensing of pentachlorophenol in tap water using natural C–Phycocyanin Z. Kılıç & M. Durmuş https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2026.127984
- Subglacial geology and thermal conditions regulate methane emissions from Svalbard glaciers G. Kleber et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77190-z
- Spatiotemporal variability and environmental controls on aquatic methane emissions in an Arctic permafrost catchment M. Thayne et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-477-2026
- Microbial oxidation significantly reduces methane export from global groundwaters B. Heinze et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2508773122
- Impact of glacial-interglacial cycles on the groundwater system of the Lofoten-Vesterålen continental margin, Norway, since the Last Interglacial S. Hietbrink et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02994-0
- Anatomy and impact of a high Arctic atmospheric river driving extreme winter rain and snowfall H. Bailey et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4421-2026
- Radiocarbon and bulk isotope composition of subglacial methane and carbon dioxide emitted at the western margin of the Greenland ice sheet G. Adnew et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.12.026
- Low methane supersaturation observed in southwestern Greenland fjords C. Hassler et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1797236
- Surging glaciers in Svalbard: Observing their distribution, characteristics and evolution W. Harcourt et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105410
- Quality of meltwater in terms of potential use in swimming pool facilities E. Kudlek et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101052
- Submarine groundwater discharge and gas hydrate dissociation fuel organic matter formation in Arctic fjord sediments B. Szymczycha et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2025.104570
- Glacial meltwater-driven suppression of riverine methane emissions in the high-altitude cryospheric regions J. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136372
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 21 Sep 2026
Short summary
Our research on Svalbard shows that glacier melt rivers can transport large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By studying a glacier over one summer, we found that its river was highly concentrated in methane, suggesting that rivers could provide a significant source of methane emissions as the Arctic warms and glaciers melt. This is the first time such emissions have been measured on Svalbard, indicating a wider environmental concern as such processes are occurring across the Arctic.
Our research on Svalbard shows that glacier melt rivers can transport large amounts of methane,...
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