Philip Wright

I’m using the stable isotopes of carbon and hydrogen in methane (CH₄) to determine sources and processes affecting CH₄ release in small subarctic lakes (NWT).  CH₄ oxidation, CH₄ production pathway or temperature will affect the isotope mass ratio differently, and researchers rely on the fractionation factor to determine these discrepancies. The fractionation factor for hydrogen during CH₄ oxidation has not been widely accepted and therefore, my research aims to confirm a fractionation factor to assist in determining the role of CH₄ oxidation in controlling CH₄ emissions to the atmosphere.