Table 1 Estimation of methane consumed through aerobic methane oxidation (MOx) in global 0–50 m near-shore waters

From: Aerobic oxidation of methane significantly reduces global diffusive methane emissions from shallow marine waters

Near-shore waters (0–50 m)

Average MOx Rate

Average water deptha

Methane consumed by MOx

Diffusive fluxd

MOx/Total losse

(nmol L−1 d−1)

(m)

(Tg yr−1)

(Tg yr−1)

(%)

Surface water (n = 3727)

1.78 ± 2.74

16.5

1.87 ± 2.88b

4.16 ± 6.40c

2.00 ± 1.45

48.3

Depth profiles (n = 1108)

1.46 ± 1.84

16.5

1.53 ± 1.93b

3.41 ± 4.30c

2.00 ± 1.45

43.3

Surface water + Depth profiles (n = 4835)

1.71 ± 2.57

16.5

1.80 ± 2.70b

4.00 ± 6.00c

2.00 ± 1.45

47.4

  1. aThe average depth of 0–50 m was computed from the ETOPO2 high-resolution bathymetry (see the “Methods” section).
  2. bMethane consumed by MOx was calculated based on the area of near-shore waters accounting for 3% of the ocean area (i.e., ~1.09 × 107 km2)3.
  3. cMethane consumed by MOx was calculated based on the area of near-shore waters derived from the seafloor geomorphic features map of the global ocean (i.e., ~2.4 × 107 km2)66.
  4. dDiffusive fluxes was reported based on the area of near-shore waters accounting for 3% of the ocean area3.
  5. eMOx/Total loss = Methane consumed by MOxb/(Methane consumed by MOxb + diffusive fluxesd).
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