Decadal doubling of Siberian methane emissions due to warming-induced fires and methanogenesis

Research published in Science magazine in August 2026 documents a doubling of methane emissions from Siberia over the past decade. The main causes of this increase are fires triggered by climate warming and methanogenesis, a process intensifying in warming soils. Warming in Siberian regions causes increased frequency of forest fires, which release methane from biomass. Simultaneously, elevated temperatures promote microbial processes in permafrost and wetlands that produce additional methane. These emissions have a significant impact on the global greenhouse gas cycle. The doubling of emissions over ten years represents a marked acceleration compared to previous trends.