Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-43
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-43
23 Feb 2023
 | 23 Feb 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal BG.

Temporary stratification promotes large greenhouse gas emissions in a shallow eutrophic lake

Thomas Alexander Davidson, Martin Søndergaard, Joachim Audet, Eti Levi, Chiara Esposito, and Anders Nielsen

Abstract. Shallow lakes and ponds undergo frequent temporary thermal stratification. How this affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is moot, with both increased and reduced GHG emissions hypothesised. Here, weekly estimation of GHG emissions were combined with high-resolution temperature and oxygen profiles of an 11 hectare shallow lake to investigate how thermal stratification shapes GHG emissions. There were three main stratification periods with profound anoxia in the bottom waters occurring quickly upon isolation from the atmosphere. Average diffusive emission of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were larger and more variable in stratified phase, whereas carbon dioxide (CO2) was on average lower. CH4 ebullition was an order of magnitude greater in the stratified phase. In addition, there was a large efflux of CH4 and CO2 when the lake mixed after periods of extended (circa 14 days) thermal stratification. These two turnover events were estimated to have released the majority of the CH4 emitted between May and September. These results highlight the role of turnover emissions resulting from temporary thermal stratification and also the need high frequency measurements of GHG emission in order to accurately characterise emissions from these temporarily stratifying lakes.

Thomas Alexander Davidson et al.

Status: open (until 19 Apr 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse

Thomas Alexander Davidson et al.

Thomas Alexander Davidson et al.

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Short summary
Shallow lakes and ponds undergo frequent stratification in the summer months. Here we studied how this effect the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We found that stratification caused anoxia in the bottom waters driving increased GHG emissions, in particular methane released as bubbles. In addition methane and carbon dioxide accumulated in the bottom waters during stratification leading to large emissions when the lake mixed again.
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