作者：P. Bodmer, C. Bors, L. Liu and A. Lorke

Inland waters emit a globally significant amount of methane (CH4) into the atmosphere. Measurements of potential CH4 production rates in the sediment can help constrain the magnitude of CH4 sources and time-averaged emission rates. We explored the magnitude, variability, and drivers of potential CH4 production rates in the sediment, based on compiled measurements (238 sediment cores from 72 aquatic systems) following a standardized laboratory incubation procedure. The data reveal > 4-fold higher potential CH4 production rates in reservoir sediments than lakes and > 14-fold higher than rivers after being standardized for temperature. Sediment organic carbon content and depth below the sediment-water interface are universal drivers for potential CH4 production rates across freshwater ecosystems. The disproportional high CH4 production rate in sediments from human-made water bodies calls for more comprehensive monitoring of their CH4 emissions to inform carbon footprint and inventory efforts. This first meta-analysis of potential CH4 production rates in sediments from different types of freshwater aquatic systems may help with process-based modeling of CH4 emissions from individual water bodies in larger-scale assessments.

（来源：Limnology and Oceanography 2025 Vol. 70 Issue 6 Pages 1561-1574  DOI: 10.1002/lno.70063）