Modeling the carbon dynamics of the La Grande hydroelectric complex in northern Quebec

Sebastian Weissenberger, Marc Lucotte, Stéphane Houel, Nicolas Soumis, Éric Duchemin and René Canuel

Ecological Modelling, 2010, vol. 221, issue 4, 610-620

Abstract: A mechanistic semi-empirical carbon cycle model of the La Grande reservoir complex in northern Quebec, Canada was conceived in order to investigate the climate impact of such a large alteration of the continental water cycle. The model includes inputs from the drainage basin, organic matter release from flooded soils, CO2 emissions across the water–atmosphere interface and sedimentation. Most input data stems from previous research by our group on those ecosystems. The model includes the seven reservoirs of the La Grande complex and was run for periods of 50 and 100 years. Terrigeneous dissolved, particulate and suspended soil carbon fluxes and concentrations were computed. Over 100 years, 31.3×1012gC are released from flooded soils, equivalent to 28–29% of inputs from the drainage basin. 40–74% of dissolved organic carbon is mineralized. CO2 fluxes over 100 years are 50.5–79.8×1012gC, 46.4–67.9×1012gC more than in the absence of reservoirs. The increase in mineralization of organic matter and in CO2 emissions is a result of the increase in cumulated water residence time due to the creation of the reservoirs. Changes in other carbon sinks and sources likely offset a part of this additional carbon flux to the atmosphere. In the first years following flooding of the reservoir, organic carbon release from flooded soils exceeds CO2 emissions, implying the downstream export of large quantities of eroded soil organic carbon. After this initial period, CO2 emissions are fuelled by organic carbon originating from the drainage basin.

Keywords: Reservoirs; Carbon cycle; Terrigeneous organic matter; Greenhouse gas emission; Organic matter mineralization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:221:y:2010:i:4:p:610-620

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.10.037

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