Spatial-seasonal distribution and net climate effect of CO2, CH4 and N2O in a eutrophic estuary
ID:971
Poster Presentation
2027-01-15 16:30 (China Standard Time)
Session:Session 68 - Nitrous oxide biogeochemistry in a changing ocean: from microbial turnover to climate impact
Abstract
Eutrophic estuaries are hotspots of greenhouse-gas emission, playing a disproportional role in regulating the CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations in the atmosphere. Numerous studies have shown huge spatial-seasonal variations in the distribution and flux of the three major greenhouse gases, however, the combined greenhouse effect and whether CO2, CH4 and N2O follow similar spatial-temporal variation patterns remain unclear. We measured the distribution and air-sea flux of CO2, CH4 and N2O across the salinity gradient covering all four seasons in a heavily human-perturbated estuary, the Jiulong Estuary (JLE). allowing a comprehensive evaluation of the net greenhouse effect.We found that all gases were supersaturated, and their saturation level declined seaward. By comparison, all the gases exhibited remarkable seasonal variation in both their concentrations and fluxes. Total GWP100-weighted flux varied three- to fivefold across different seasons. Annual mean flux was 40.5 mmol CO2-eq m-2 d-1, with CO2, N2O and CH4 contributing 85.4%, 12.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Dark incubations further reveal contrasting effects of microbial activities on the fate of the greenhouse gases: CO2 production declined with salinity, CH4 was consumed and N2O showed net production throughout the estuary. All the three gases covaried with salinity and nutrients, although these relationships partly reflected shared spatial pattern. After accounting for the salinity effects, residual excess CO2 was positively correlated with temperature, whereas excess CH4 was associated with temperature and NH4+; no measured environmental variable was statistically correlated with excess N2O. Collectively, these findings show that the apparent similar spatial distribution pattern do not imply same controls, but instead the three greenhouse gases were regulated by different processes and environmental variables. Spatially and seasonally resolved multi-gas observations are essential to constrain greenhouse-gas emissions from eutrophic estuaries.
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Jan 30
2026
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Jan 12–15
2027
XMAS 2027
