Lateral CH₄ inputs to Arctic lakes through groundwater discharge could be substantial and constitute an important pathway that links CH₄ production in thawing permafrost to atmospheric emissions via lakes. Yet, groundwater CH₄ inputs and associated drivers are hitherto poorly constrained because their dynamics and spatial variability are largely unknown. Here, we unravel the important role and drivers of groundwater discharge for CH₄ emissions from Arctic lakes. Spatial patterns across lakes suggest groundwater inflows are primarily related to lake depth and wetland cover. Groundwater CH₄ inputs to lakes are higher in summer than in autumn and are influenced by hydrological (groundwater recharge) and biological drivers (CH₄ production). This information on the spatial and temporal patterns on groundwater discharge at high northern latitudes is critical for predicting lake CH₄ emissions in the warming Arctic, as rising temperatures, increasing precipitation, and permafrost thawing may further exacerbate groundwater CH₄ inputs to lakes.

通过地下水排放向北极湖泊的侧向 CH _{4输入可能是大量的，并且构成了将解冻永久冻土中的 CH 4}生产与通过湖泊的大气排放联系起来的重要途径。然而，迄今为止，地下水 CH ₄输入和相关驱动因素的约束很差，因为它们的动态和空间变异性在很大程度上是未知的。在这里，我们揭示了地下水排放对北极湖泊 CH ₄排放的重要作用和驱动因素。整个湖泊的空间格局表明地下水流入主要与湖泊深度和湿地覆盖率有关。地下水 CH ₄夏季对湖泊的投入高于秋季，并受到水文（地下水补给）和生物驱动因素（CH ₄产量）的影响。这一关于北纬高纬度地区地下水排放时空格局的信息对于预测北极变暖中的湖泊 CH ₄排放至关重要，因为气温升高、降水增加和永久冻土融化可能会进一步加剧地下水 CH ₄对湖泊的输入。