Paradox reconsidered: Methane oversaturation in well-oxygenated lake waters - Kam Tang (Limnology and Oceanography, 2014)
The widely reported paradox of methane oversaturation in oxygenated water challenges the prevailing paradigm that microbial methanogenesis only occurs under anoxic conditions. In this study we show that the recurring mid-water methane peak in lakes was the result of active microbial methane production within the well oxygenated water column, and the process was likely linked to photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Results point to a novel source of methane with important implications for global climate.