Articles | Volume 12, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2431-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2431-2015
Research article
 | 
24 Apr 2015
Research article |  | 24 Apr 2015

Dynamics of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) along the Zambezi River and major tributaries, and their importance in the riverine carbon budget

C. R. Teodoru, F. C. Nyoni, A. V. Borges, F. Darchambeau, I. Nyambe, and S. Bouillon

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Cited articles

Abril, G., Bouillon, S., Darchambeau, F., Teodoru, C. R., Marwick, T. R., Tamooh, F., Ochieng Omengo, F., Geeraert, N., Deirmendjian, L., Polsenaere, P., and Borges, A. V.: Technical Note: Large overestimation of pCO2 calculated from pH and alkalinity in acidic, organic-rich freshwaters, Biogeosciences, 12, 67–78, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-67-2015, 2015.
Amiotte-Suchet, P., Aubert, D., Probst, J. L., Gauthier-Lafaye, F., Probst, A., Andreux, F., and Viville, D.: δ13C pattern of dissolved inorganic carbon in a small granitic catchment: the Strengbach case study (Vosges mountains, France), Chem. Geol., 159, 129–145, 1999.
Ashton, P. J., Love, D., Mahachi, H., and Dirks, P. H. G. M.: An overview of the impact of mining and mineral processing operations on water resources and water quality in the Zambezi, Limpopo and Olifants Catchments in Southern Africa., Contract Report to the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (SOUTHERN AFRICA), Project by CSIR-Environmentek, Pretoria, South Africa and Geology Department, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, Rep. ENV-P-C 2001–042, 336 pp., available at: http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/G00599.pdf (last access: 15 September 2014), 2001.
Aufdenkampe, E. K., Mayorga, E., Raymond, P. A., Melack, J. M., Doney, S. C., Alin, S. R., Aalto, R. E., and Yoo, K.: Rivers key to coupling biogeochemical cycles between land, oceans and atmosphere, Front. Ecol. Environ. 9, 53–60, https://doi.org/10.1890/100014, 2011.
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Short summary
CO2 and CH4 concentrations and fluxes in the Zambezi River basin are well below the median/average values reported previously for tropical rivers, streams and reservoirs, and mainly controlled by the connectivity with floodplains and the presence of waterfalls and man-made reservoirs. The mass balance suggests that carbon transport to the ocean represents the major component (~60%) of the budget, while emissions to the atmosphere account for less than 40% of the total carbon yield.
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