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Organic carbon burial in global lakes and reservoirs

Author

Listed:
  • Raquel Mendonça

    (Uppsala University
    Federal University of Juiz de Fora)

  • Roger A. Müller

    (Uppsala University)

  • David Clow

    (Colorado Water Science Center)

  • Charles Verpoorter

    (Uppsala University
    Univ. Littoral Cote d’Opale, Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8187, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences)

  • Peter Raymond

    (Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies)

  • Lars J. Tranvik

    (Uppsala University)

  • Sebastian Sobek

    (Uppsala University)

Abstract

Burial in sediments removes organic carbon (OC) from the short-term biosphere-atmosphere carbon (C) cycle, and therefore prevents greenhouse gas production in natural systems. Although OC burial in lakes and reservoirs is faster than in the ocean, the magnitude of inland water OC burial is not well constrained. Here we generate the first global-scale and regionally resolved estimate of modern OC burial in lakes and reservoirs, deriving from a comprehensive compilation of literature data. We coupled statistical models to inland water area inventories to estimate a yearly OC burial of 0.15 (range, 0.06–0.25) Pg C, of which ~40% is stored in reservoirs. Relatively higher OC burial rates are predicted for warm and dry regions. While we report lower burial than previously estimated, lake and reservoir OC burial corresponded to ~20% of their C emissions, making them an important C sink that is likely to increase with eutrophication and river damming.

Suggested Citation

  • Raquel Mendonça & Roger A. Müller & David Clow & Charles Verpoorter & Peter Raymond & Lars J. Tranvik & Sebastian Sobek, 2017. "Organic carbon burial in global lakes and reservoirs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01789-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01789-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Ruishi & Zhao, Rongqin & Xie, Zhixiang & Xiao, Liangang & Chuai, Xiaowei & Feng, Mengyu & Zhang, Huifang & Luo, Huili, 2022. "Water–energy–carbon nexus at campus scale: Case of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Xiaofang Huang & Lirong Lin & Shuwen Ding & Zhengchao Tian & Xinyuan Zhu & Keren Wu & Yuanzhe Zhao, 2022. "Characteristics of Soil Erodibility K Value and Its Influencing Factors in the Changyan Watershed, Southwest Hubei, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Jager, Henriette I. & Griffiths, Natalie A. & Hansen, Carly H. & King, Anthony W. & Matson, Paul G. & Singh, Debjani & Pilla, Rachel M., 2022. "Getting lost tracking the carbon footprint of hydropower," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. McCullough, Ian M. & Dugan, Hilary A. & Farrell, Kaitlin J. & Morales-Williams, Ana M. & Ouyang, Zutao & Roberts, Derek & Scordo, Facundo & Bartlett, Sarah L. & Burke, Samantha M. & Doubek, Jonathan P, 2018. "Dynamic modeling of organic carbon fates in lake ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 386(C), pages 71-82.

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