Crucial Role of Tributary Bays in the Carbon Burial of Three Gorges Reservoir

Wang, Kai1,2; Huang, Lei2; He, Guojian2; Liu, Yan3; Xu, Song2; He, Ding6,7; Bai, Sen4; Reible, Danny5; Fang, Hongwei1,2

2024-02-05

10.1021/acsestwater.3c00459

ACS ES&T WATER   影响因子和分区

2690-0637

Tributary bays, which are formed in river tributaries for reservoir construction with a relatively lentic environment, have been estimated to hold unique biogeochemical processes and to be involved in ecological issues (e.g., algal bloom). Nevertheless, the role of tributary bays in carbon cycling is unclear, precluding an accurate assessment of the carbon budgets of reservoirs. To fill this knowledge gap, we take the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) as an example and assess the carbon budget of a typical tributary bay (Xiangxi River, XXR) of TGR. With laboratory experiments and numerical models, we demonstrate that XXR may be an important carbon sink. This study exhibits that primary productivity enhancement (e.g., algal bloom) in tributary bays plays a critical role in CO2 sequestration and contributes significantly to carbon burial. Moreover, the organic carbon burial flux of tributary bays in TGR is estimated to be equivalent to (22 +/- 9) % of that in the mainstream, demonstrating the crucial role of tributary bays in the carbon burial of TGR. Considering the scientific debate on whether the reservoir is a carbon sink or source, we suggest that the overlooking of tributary bays might lead to a significant error in assessing the reservoir carbon budget.

tributary bays organiccarbon hydrologicalvariations carbon burial

ESCI

英语

第一 ; 通讯

Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau (CORE).[2022YFC3201802] ; National Key Research and Development Program of China["U2040214","12272209"] ; State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing["AoE/P-601/23-N","26300822"]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Water Resources

Environmental Sciences ; Water Resources

WOS:001163296400001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Ocean Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
2.Tsinghua Univ, Dept Hydraul Engn, State Key Lab Hydrosci & Engn, Beijing 100084, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
4.Tetra Tech Inc, Fairfax, VA 22032 USA
5.Texas Tech Univ, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Lubbock, TX 79409 USA
6.Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Ocean Sci, Hong Kong 999077, Peoples R China
7.Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Ctr Ocean Res Hong Kong & Macau, Hong Kong, Peoples R China

Wang, Kai,Huang, Lei,He, Guojian,et al. Crucial Role of Tributary Bays in the Carbon Burial of Three Gorges Reservoir[J]. ACS ES&T WATER,2024,4(4).

Wang, Kai.,Huang, Lei.,He, Guojian.,Liu, Yan.,Xu, Song.,...&Fang, Hongwei.(2024).Crucial Role of Tributary Bays in the Carbon Burial of Three Gorges Reservoir.ACS ES&T WATER,4(4).

Wang, Kai,et al."Crucial Role of Tributary Bays in the Carbon Burial of Three Gorges Reservoir".ACS ES&T WATER 4.4(2024).