TY - JOUR
T1 - CO2 emissions from saline lakes: A global estimate of a surprisingly large flux
AU - Duarte, Carlos
AU - Prairie, Y.T.
AU - Montes, C.
AU - Cole, J.J.
AU - Striegl, R.
AU - Melack, J.
AU - Downing, J.A.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The role of saline lakes in CO2 exchange with the atmosphere was evaluated on the basis of calculated partial pressure (pCO(2)) and CO2 exchange rates with the atmosphere derived from a compilation of published data for 196 saline lakes around the world. The average surface water pCO(2) exceeded atmospheric pCO(2) by a factor of 5-8 times, indicative of a tendency for saline lakes to emit CO2 to the atmosphere. Chemically enhanced emission, calculated from solute chemistry, pH, and wind speed, increased gas exchange an average of 2.3 times over that of freshwater lakes having equivalent pCO(2). The globally distributed lakes emitted CO2 at rates in excess of 80 mmol m(-2) d(-1). The Caspian Sea was calculated to support alone a total CO2 emission of 0.02 to 0.04 Gt C a(-1), with the total CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from saline lakes calculated to be 0.11-0.15 Gt C a(-1). Consideration of CO2 emissions from saline lakes raises the total CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from all lakes to 0.28-0.32 Gt CO2. These results point to a significant role of saline lakes in global C cycling.
AB - The role of saline lakes in CO2 exchange with the atmosphere was evaluated on the basis of calculated partial pressure (pCO(2)) and CO2 exchange rates with the atmosphere derived from a compilation of published data for 196 saline lakes around the world. The average surface water pCO(2) exceeded atmospheric pCO(2) by a factor of 5-8 times, indicative of a tendency for saline lakes to emit CO2 to the atmosphere. Chemically enhanced emission, calculated from solute chemistry, pH, and wind speed, increased gas exchange an average of 2.3 times over that of freshwater lakes having equivalent pCO(2). The globally distributed lakes emitted CO2 at rates in excess of 80 mmol m(-2) d(-1). The Caspian Sea was calculated to support alone a total CO2 emission of 0.02 to 0.04 Gt C a(-1), with the total CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from saline lakes calculated to be 0.11-0.15 Gt C a(-1). Consideration of CO2 emissions from saline lakes raises the total CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from all lakes to 0.28-0.32 Gt CO2. These results point to a significant role of saline lakes in global C cycling.
U2 - 10.1029/2007JG000637
DO - 10.1029/2007JG000637
M3 - Article
VL - 113
SP - 7pp
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans
SN - 0148-0227
ER -