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Global lake phytoplankton proliferation intensifies climate warming

Author

Listed:
  • Wenqing Shi

    (Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology)

  • Boqiang Qin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qingji Zhang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Hans W. Paerl

    (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)

  • Bryce Dam

    (Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon)

  • Erik Jeppesen

    (Aarhus University
    Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research
    Middle East Technical University
    Middle East Technical University)

  • Chenjun Zeng

    (Guangdong Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower)

Abstract

In lakes, phytoplankton sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and store it in the form of biomass organic carbon (OC); however, only a small fraction of the OC remains buried, while the remaining part is recycled to the atmosphere as CO2 and methane (CH4). This has the potential effect of adding CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq) to the atmosphere and producing a warming effect due to the higher radiative forcing of CH4 relative to CO2. Here we show a 3.1-fold increase in CO2-eq emissions over a 100-year horizon, with the effect increasing with global warming intensity. Climate warming has stimulated phytoplankton growth in many lakes worldwide, which, in turn, can feed back CO2-eq and create a positive feedback loop between them. In lakes where phytoplankton is negatively impacted by climate warming, the CO2-eq feedback capacity may diminish gradually with the ongoing climate warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenqing Shi & Boqiang Qin & Qingji Zhang & Hans W. Paerl & Bryce Dam & Erik Jeppesen & Chenjun Zeng, 2024. "Global lake phytoplankton proliferation intensifies climate warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54926-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54926-3
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