Assessing Methane Fluxes in a Small Run-of-River Reservoir: The Importance of Adjacent Marshland
Abstract
We investigate methane (CH4) emissions from a small run-of-river impoundment, the Schwentine River in Kiel, Germany. Small dammed rivers, while important regions for carbon transformation, are presently not considered in the terrestrial carbon budget and are under-represented in CH4 emission studies. Using state-of-the-art monitoring techniques, we determine that 1) the CH4 emissions well-exceed those reported for temperate reservoirs and 2) the hydrodynamic linkage to bordering marshland (consisting of reed belts, sidebays and creeks) is an important CH4 source for Schwentine River CH4. During our study, the Schwentine River discharged into the Kieler Fjord at 3 - 12 m3/s. CH4 measurements included 1) a moored sensor near the dam discharge, 2) discrete water sampling, and 3) real time surface flux measurements with floating chambers. We observed that the CH4 concentration increased nearly linearly from 2.5 km upstream towards the dam. The CH4 concentration near the dam discharge was logged and reported every 30 minutes nearly continuously from 11 July - 28 Sept 2011, and varied from 500 μmol/L to 2,200 μmol/L. Surprisingly, the CH4 mass discharge from the dam - ranging from 4 to 20 kg/day - increased with both temperature and flowrate, suggesting a flow-dependent CH4 source. We found that the bordering and numerous inundated reed belts, sidebays and small creeks, had significantly elevated CH4 concentrations. These marshland regions are relatively productive and quiescent compared to the main river, and trap organic and particulate matter, leading to enhanced CH4 production. As the river flowrate increases, the lateral exchange with these adjacent areas also increases. Using the CH4 concentration time series, measured surface diffusive and ebullition fluxes, and sediment CH4 porewater profiles, we estimate the relative contributions of CH4 in the main branch due to 1) sediment diffusion, 2) dissolution from sediment CH4 bubble release, and 3) lateral fluxes from the marshland. Damming of the rivers potentially creates or increases adjacent marshland, leading to methane production/emission hotspots. Considering only the main branch, the Schwentine River CH4 emission rate is similar to tropical reservoirs. However, including bubble and diffusive emissions from the reed belts and many small side bays and streams could significantly increase this estimate. As millions of such small river impoundments exist worldwide, we discuss the hydrodynamic alterations promoting CH4 production/emission hotspots, illustrate the importance of collecting high-resolution time series data for assessing emissions, and finally estimate the potential contribution of these small aquatic systems to the global terrestrial carbon balance.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.B52B..06M
- Keywords:
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- 0428 BIOGEOSCIENCES Carbon cycling;
- 0438 BIOGEOSCIENCES Diel;
- seasonal;
- and annual cycles;
- 0452 BIOGEOSCIENCES Instruments and techniques;
- 0458 BIOGEOSCIENCES Limnology