Methane bubbles rising from under a glacier

Glacier's Secret: Uncovering Methane's Surprising Role in Climate Change

Soraya Malik in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Is That Melting Glacier Releasing More Than Just Water? New evidence reveals a hidden source of methane emissions."

Glaciers and ice sheets, often perceived as frozen reservoirs of water, hold a hidden secret: they can be significant producers and releasers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Traditionally overlooked in global methane budgets, contemporary glaciers are now under scrutiny as potential contributors to atmospheric methane levels. This discovery is reshaping our understanding of climate change dynamics and highlighting previously unaccounted sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

A groundbreaking study focusing on the Icelandic glacier Sólheimajökull has provided direct field-based evidence of substantial methane production and release. This glacier, influenced by geothermal activity, creates unique sub-oxic conditions conducive to methane generation and preservation. The findings challenge conventional assumptions and emphasize the need to reassess the role of glaciers in global climate models.

The research not only sheds light on the biogenic origins of methane in glacial environments but also underscores the potential for similar processes in other temperate glaciers worldwide. As climate change accelerates ice thinning and meltwater evacuation, understanding and quantifying these methane releases becomes increasingly critical for accurate climate predictions and mitigation strategies.

Methane from Glaciers: How Big Is the Problem?

Methane bubbles rising from under a glacier

The base of glaciers and ice sheets provides surprisingly favorable environments for methane production. High-pressure conditions under the ice, combined with sub-oxic conditions and the presence of organic carbon in basal sediments, create ideal habitats for methane-producing microorganisms. This trapped methane can then be released into the atmosphere during periods of ice thinning and meltwater runoff, acting as a positive feedback loop in climate change.

The Sólheimajökull glacier in Iceland offers a unique case study due to its geothermal activity, which enhances methane production. Researchers have directly measured substantial methane production at the glacier bed, estimating around 48 tonnes per day. A significant portion of this methane evades oxidation and is released into the atmosphere via proglacial streams, contributing approximately 41 tonnes per day.

Subglacial environments can foster methane production due to high pressure and sub-oxic conditions.
Methane is trapped beneath the ice and released during melting.
Icelandic glacier Sólheimajökull emits significant methane due to geothermal activity.
Daily methane production at the glacier bed is estimated at 48 tonnes.
Approximately 41 tonnes of methane are released into the atmosphere daily.

Isotopic analysis further supports the biogenic origin of the methane, indicating microbial activity as the primary source. The methane signatures observed in the meltwaters align with those of microbial methanogenesis, reinforcing the understanding that these glacial environments are active sites of biological methane production. This finding challenges previous assumptions and emphasizes the need to consider microbial processes in climate models.

What's Next? Understanding Glaciers' Methane Contribution

The discovery of substantial methane production in temperate glaciers highlights the urgent need for further research to quantify the global impact of these previously overlooked sources. Future studies should focus on assessing methane release from various glacial environments, including those with and without geothermal influence. By incorporating these findings into climate models, we can improve predictions and develop more effective strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1038/s41598-018-35253-2, Alternate LINK

Title: Direct Isotopic Evidence Of Biogenic Methane Production And Efflux From Beneath A Temperate Glacier

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Scientific Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: R. Burns, P. M. Wynn, P. Barker, N. Mcnamara, S. Oakley, N. Ostle, A. W. Stott, H. Tuffen, Zheng Zhou, F. S. Tweed, A. Chesler, M. Stuart

Published: 2018-11-20

Everything You Need To Know

Are glaciers just frozen water, or could they be contributing to greenhouse gas emissions?

Glaciers and ice sheets, like the Icelandic glacier Sólheimajökull, are now recognized as potential producers and releasers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This was traditionally overlooked in global methane budgets. Research indicates that subglacial environments, characterized by high-pressure and sub-oxic conditions, foster methane production by microorganisms. This methane is then trapped beneath the ice and released during melting, contributing to atmospheric methane levels. The extent of this contribution is an active area of research.

How does geothermal activity affect methane production in glaciers like Sólheimajökull?

The Icelandic glacier Sólheimajökull demonstrates that geothermal activity enhances methane production. Researchers measured about 48 tonnes of methane production daily at the glacier bed. Approximately 41 tonnes of this methane evades oxidation and is released into the atmosphere via proglacial streams each day. The presence of organic carbon combined with sub-oxic conditions creates environments for methane-producing microorganisms.

What evidence confirms that methane from glaciers is produced by biological activity?

Isotopic analysis has confirmed the biogenic origin of methane released from glaciers, indicating microbial activity as the primary source. The methane signatures observed in meltwaters align with those of microbial methanogenesis, reinforcing the understanding that these glacial environments are active sites of biological methane production. Microbial processes play a vital role in the production of methane within these subglacial environments, which was previously underestimated.

What are the next steps in understanding the role of glaciers in global methane emissions?

The discovery of substantial methane production in temperate glaciers underscores the urgent need for further research to quantify the global impact of these previously overlooked sources. Future studies should focus on assessing methane release from various glacial environments, including those with and without geothermal influence. Quantifying methane emissions from diverse glacial environments is critical for accurately predicting the effects of climate change and developing mitigation strategies.

How does methane release from glaciers contribute to the climate change feedback loop?

The release of methane from melting glaciers creates a positive feedback loop in climate change. As ice thinning and meltwater evacuation accelerates, the trapped methane is released into the atmosphere, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. This, in turn, contributes to further warming and accelerated melting. Addressing the methane emissions from glaciers requires integrating these findings into climate models to develop more effective strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.