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High carbon dioxide emissions from Australian estuaries driven by geomorphology and climate

Author

Listed:
  • Jacob Z.-Q. Yeo

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157)

  • Judith A. Rosentreter

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157)

  • Joanne M. Oakes

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157)

  • Kai G. Schulz

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157)

  • Bradley D. Eyre

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157)

Abstract

Estuaries play an important role in connecting the global carbon cycle across the land-to-ocean continuum, but little is known about Australia’s contribution to global CO2 emissions. Here we present an Australia-wide assessment, based on CO2 concentrations for 47 estuaries upscaled to 971 assessed Australian estuaries. We estimate total mean (±SE) estuary CO2 emissions of 8.67 ± 0.54 Tg CO2-C yr−1, with tidal systems, lagoons, and small deltas contributing 94.4%, 3.1%, and 2.5%, respectively. Although higher disturbance increased water-air CO2 fluxes, its effect on total Australian estuarine CO2 emissions was small due to the large surface areas of low and moderately disturbed tidal systems. Mean water-air CO2 fluxes from Australian small deltas and tidal systems were higher than from global estuaries because of the dominance of macrotidal subtropical and tropical systems in Australia, which have higher emissions due to lateral inputs. We suggest that global estuarine CO2 emissions should be upscaled based on geomorphology, but should also consider land-use disturbance, and climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob Z.-Q. Yeo & Judith A. Rosentreter & Joanne M. Oakes & Kai G. Schulz & Bradley D. Eyre, 2024. "High carbon dioxide emissions from Australian estuaries driven by geomorphology and climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48178-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48178-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James E. Bauer & Wei-Jun Cai & Peter A. Raymond & Thomas S. Bianchi & Charles S. Hopkinson & Pierre A. G. Regnier, 2013. "The changing carbon cycle of the coastal ocean," Nature, Nature, vol. 504(7478), pages 61-70, December.
    2. Pierre Regnier & Laure Resplandy & Raymond G. Najjar & Philippe Ciais, 2022. "The land-to-ocean loops of the global carbon cycle," Nature, Nature, vol. 603(7901), pages 401-410, March.
    3. Judith A. Rosentreter & Goulven G. Laruelle & Hermann W. Bange & Thomas S. Bianchi & Julius J. M. Busecke & Wei-Jun Cai & Bradley D. Eyre & Inke Forbrich & Eun Young Kwon & Taylor Maavara & Nils Moosd, 2023. "Coastal vegetation and estuaries are collectively a greenhouse gas sink," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 13(6), pages 579-587, June.
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