Ship waves induce methane ebullition in the littoral zone of a large lake

Abstract Methane (CH 4 ) ebullition is a major emission pathway in lakes. However, ebullition remains difficult to assess, and data from large lakes are scarce. This study investigates ebullition in the littoral zone of a large lake, demonstrating that ship waves, even after traveling long distances, regularly trigger gas bubble releases from the sediments in shallow waters. Although these ebullition events occur only during the short time intervals of ship‐wave passages, they lead to substantial CH 4 emissions. Comparing several littoral sites, we assess the frequency and extent of ship‐wave‐induced ebullition events and contrast them with ebullition caused by a storm event. Our findings reveal a strong cross‐correlation between pressure drops due to ship waves and ebullition fluxes, highlighting ship‐wave‐induced pressure changes as a significant yet understudied driver of CH 4 emissions in lakes. Considering the prevalence of ship traffic on lakes, understanding ship‐wave‐induced ebullition is essential for improving estimates of lake‐wide CH 4 emissions.