Interseasonal variability in methane concentrations and its fluxes on water-atmosphere border in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk

For the first time subannual variability of methane fluxes on the water-atmosphere border in the water area of the Sea of Okhotsk, located eastward to Sakhalin Island, is shown. Variability of methane fluxes is determined by the presence and activity of submarine methane sources and is connected to the seasonal changes in hydrological and hydrochemical parameters of the sea water and the structure of of currents in the region under study. In spring and autumn the average fluxes are higher, than in the summer period. Within the summer modification of water and increase of stratification, the methane flux from the sea surface is reduced. In autumn, as a result of the autumnal convection of water and high average wind speed, methane, accumulated in transitional waters, is emitted into the atmosphere.