Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1697-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1697-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Apr 2025
Research article |
| 01 Apr 2025
| 01 Apr 2025
Surface CO2 gradients challenge conventional CO2 emission quantification in lentic water bodies under calm conditions
Department Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Brückstraße 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Uwe Spank
Chair of Meteorology, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, Pienner Straße 23, 01737 Tharandt, Germany
Matthias Koschorreck
Department Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Brückstraße 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
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Estimating greenhouse gas release from lakes requires measuring carbon dioxide near the water surface, where exchange with the air occurs. However, measurements are often taken deeper in the water, which can lead to biased results when carbon dioxide is not evenly mixed. We developed a thin device that measures carbon dioxide directly near the surface. Tests show it is accurate, reacts quickly to changes, and helps improve estimates of greenhouse gas release from lakes.
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Estimating greenhouse gas release from lakes requires measuring carbon dioxide near the water surface, where exchange with the air occurs. However, measurements are often taken deeper in the water, which can lead to biased results when carbon dioxide is not evenly mixed. We developed a thin device that measures carbon dioxide directly near the surface. Tests show it is accurate, reacts quickly to changes, and helps improve estimates of greenhouse gas release from lakes.
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Short summary
Lakes can be sources and sinks of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The gas exchange between the atmosphere and the water can be measured by taking gas samples from them. However, the depth of water samples is not well defined, which may cause errors. We hypothesized that gradients of CO2 concentrations develop under the surface when wind speeds are very low. Our measurements show that such a gradient can occur on calm nights, potentially shifting lakes from a CO2 sink to a source.
Lakes can be sources and sinks of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The gas exchange between...
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