Recognizing Crucial Aquatic Factors Influencing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Eutrophication Zone of Taihu Lake, China

Yulin Wang, Liang Wang, Jilin Cheng, Chengda He and Haomiao Cheng
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Yulin Wang: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Liang Wang: College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Jilin Cheng: College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Chengda He: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Haomiao Cheng: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are closely related to climate change and serious ecological instability, have attracted global attention. The estimation of crucial aquatic factors for the flux of GHGs in lakes is a key step in controlling and reducing GHG emissions. The importance of 14 aquatic factors for GHG emissions was estimated in Meiliang Bay, which is an eutrophication shallow bay in Taihu Lake in eastern China. The random forest (RF) method, which is an improved version of the classified and regression tree (CART) model, was employed. No distribution assumption on variables was required in this method and it could include nonlinear actions and interactions among factors. The results show significant positive correlations among the fluxes of CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O. The most crucial factor influencing CO 2 emissions is the water temperature (WT) followed by sulfate (SO 4 2− ), alkalinity (Alk), dissolved oxygen (DO), and nitrate (NO 3 − –N). The important factors for CH 4 emissions are WT, SO 4 2− , DO, Alk, and NO 2 − –N. The outcome for N 2 O, in which the key factor is NO 2 − –N, was slightly different from those of CO 2 and CH 4 . A comprehensive ranking index (CRI) for the fluxes of all three GHGs was also calculated and showed that WT, NO 2 − –N, SO 4 2− , DO, and Alk are the most crucial aquatic factors. These results indicate that increasing DO might be the most effective means of controlling GHG emissions in eutrophication lake bays. The role of SO 4 2− in GHG emissions, which has previously been ignored, is also worth paying attention to. This study provides a useful basis for controlling GHG emissions in eutrophication shallow lake bays.

Keywords: GHGs; aquatic factors; random forest; water temperature; nitrogen; sulfate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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