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Potential Areas of Gas Seepage Detected by SAR in Lakes near Fairbanks, Alaska

Published by ORNL_DAAC | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Catalog Last Checked: August 04, 2026 at 10:57 PM | Dataset Last Updated: June 23, 2026
This dataset includes maps and locations of potential gas seepage in lakes within the immediate and surrounding area around Fairbanks, Alaska, a region underlain by discontinuous permafrost and characterized by thermokarst lake formation. Gas bubbling from lakes in the Fairbanks area is usually rich in methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is difficult to quantify. A new remote sensing method was used for detecting potential gas seepage, defined as areas of suspected perennial ebullition, by using a previously ground-truthed seep that appeared as a high-backscatter perennial feature in winter L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from 2006-2011. Based on threshold values determined by the sigma-naught backscatter of this training seep, 1,690 areas of potential seepage were detected in 459 lakes out of 658 lakes analyzed. Results were validated through a different ground-truthed seep. The data are provided in shapefile format.

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Complete Metadata
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description This dataset includes maps and locations of potential gas seepage in lakes within the immediate and surrounding area around Fairbanks, Alaska, a region underlain by discontinuous permafrost and characterized by thermokarst lake formation. Gas bubbling from lakes in the Fairbanks area is usually rich in methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is difficult to quantify. A new remote sensing method was used for detecting potential gas seepage, defined as areas of suspected perennial ebullition, by using a previously ground-truthed seep that appeared as a high-backscatter perennial feature in winter L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from 2006-2011. Based on threshold values determined by the sigma-naught backscatter of this training seep, 1,690 areas of potential seepage were detected in 459 lakes out of 658 lakes analyzed. Results were validated through a different ground-truthed seep. The data are provided in shapefile format.
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identifier 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2394
keyword 
[
  "earth-science-climate-feedbacks-climate-indicators-cryospheric-feedbacks",
  "earth-science-ecosystems-biosphere-freshwater-ecosystems",
  "earth-science-frozen-ground-cryosphere-permafrost",
  "earth-science-paleoclimate-indicators-climate-indicators-permafrost-methane-release",
  "earth-science-snow-ice-cryosphere-lake-ice",
  "earth-science-water-quality-water-chemistry-terrestrial-hydrosphere-gases"
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license https://www.usa.gov/government-works
modified 2026-06-23
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publisher 
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spatial 
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temporal 2006-12-04/2011-03-17
theme 
[
  "Earth Science"
]
title Potential Areas of Gas Seepage Detected by SAR in Lakes near Fairbanks, Alaska

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