Dynamics of dissolved greenhouse gas response to seasonal water mixing in subtropical reservoirs

Abstract

Although indispensable, significant uncertainty still exists in the underlying processes of the formation, dynamics, and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the critical elements needed for the accurate estimation of greenhouse gas fluxes in inland lakes and reservoirs. Seasonal changes in water thermal stratification and turbulence strongly influence the concentration and emission of dissolved GHGs in water columns. Here, we studied the stratification and overturn processes of water column in the subtropical Lianhe Reservoir during different seasons and determined the dynamics of dissolved CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O in the reservoir. Observation of temperature and analysis of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) clearly suggested that stratification of water column occurred in summer, but not in winter. The results showed that while dissolved oxygen (DO) was high in the top 5-m layer (the upper epilimnion layer), it dropped considerably especially below 10 m, resulting in an increase in concentration of CO₂ and CH₄. The high concentrations of dissolved N₂O and CH₄ were related to the decomposition of organic matter in the hypolimnion layer under anaerobic conditions after stratification. In winter overturn period, vertical circulants of water not only homogenized the concentration of DO in the water column, but also potentially moved CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O from the bottom to the surface of the reservoir. The estimated GHG flux from the reservoir was − 7.13 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ in summer and 2.14 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ in winter. There was the potential that CO₂ fluxes from subtropical lakes and reservoirs are overestimated by traditional geochemical models.