Jun 28, 2021 · Pelagic methane enriched zones (PMEZ, ref. 12) are well-defined CH 4 maxima occurring as a distinct region (s) of the water column in deep freshwater lakes ( 1, 12, 14 ). PMEZ offer a tractable environment in which to study the microbiology and biogeochemistry that underpins aerobic CH 4 synthesis.