Articles | Volume 23, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-2309-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-23-2309-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Apr 2026
Research article |
| 09 Apr 2026
| 09 Apr 2026
Understanding the balance between methane production and oxidation from wetlands: insights from a reduced process-based model
Gordon R. McNicol
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Anita T. Layton
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Nandita B. Basu
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Short summary
We have developed a simple mathematical model to investigate how water levels, soil temperature, and plant carbon inputs control methane release from wetlands through production and consumption in the soil. The model captures seasonal and inter-annual variations in emissions and identifies conditions, particularly water depth, that maximise emissions, depending on wetland characteristics. This work supports predicting greenhouse gas fluxes and guiding wetland management and restoration.
We have developed a simple mathematical model to investigate how water levels, soil temperature,...
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