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Groundwater seepage as a driver of CO2 evasion in a coastal lake (Lake Ainsworth, NSW, Australia)

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Abstract

In recent years, it has become apparent that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from inland water bodies and lakes are an important component of the global carbon cycle. Large-scale lake heterotrophy is thought to be a major driver of CO2 production and may mask other processes such as groundwater input. This study uses radon (222Rn, a natural groundwater tracer) to quantify groundwater discharge, and estimates CO2 outgassing to determine the contribution of groundwater-derived CO2 inputs into Lake Ainsworth (New South Wales, Australia). Lake Ainsworth was a source of CO2 to the atmosphere throughout the study period with outgassing rates ranging from 10.6 to 152.3 mmol m2 day−1. Annual groundwater fluxes were determined using a radon mass balance equated to about 55 ± 50 % of the total volume of water input (via direct precipitation and groundwater) into the lake. In spite of large uncertainties, groundwater seepage was a source of CO2 supersaturation in Lake Ainsworth equivalent to 13 ± 25 % of total CO2 outgassing rates. Hence, groundwater discharge may need to be considered for carbon budgets of other lakes.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Australian Research Council (DP120101645, DE150100581 and LE120100156). We thank Fiona Cambell, Mitchell Call, Paul Macklin, Ben Stewart, Arquimedes Key Bernat Plewe, Quinn de Rosa Pontello, Arun Looman and Chiara O’Reilly for their assistance during the fieldwork, and we also would like to acknowledge Graham Plumb from the Ballina Shire Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia

    Anita K. Perkins, Isaac R. Santos, Mahmood Sadat-Noori, Jackie R. Gatland & Damien T. Maher

  2. National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia

    Isaac R. Santos & Mahmood Sadat-Noori

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  1. Anita K. Perkins
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Correspondence to Anita K. Perkins.

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Perkins, A.K., Santos, I.R., Sadat-Noori, M. et al. Groundwater seepage as a driver of CO2 evasion in a coastal lake (Lake Ainsworth, NSW, Australia). Environ Earth Sci 74, 779–792 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4082-7

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