Thermal sensitivity of CO2 and CH4 emissions varies with streambed sediment properties

Sophie A. Comer-Warner (), Paul Romeijn, Daren C. Gooddy, Sami Ullah, Nicholas Kettridge, Benjamin Marchant, David M. Hannah and Stefan Krause
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Sophie A. Comer-Warner: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Paul Romeijn: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Daren C. Gooddy: British Geological Survey, Maclean Building
Sami Ullah: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Nicholas Kettridge: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Benjamin Marchant: British Geological Survey, Maclean Building
David M. Hannah: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Stefan Krause: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Globally, rivers and streams are important sources of carbon dioxide and methane, with small rivers contributing disproportionately relative to their size. Previous research on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from surface water lacks mechanistic understanding of contributions from streambed sediments. We hypothesise that streambeds, as known biogeochemical hotspots, significantly contribute to the production of GHGs. With global climate change, there is a pressing need to understand how increasing streambed temperatures will affect current and future GHG production. Current global estimates assume linear relationships between temperature and GHG emissions from surface water. Here we show non-linearity and threshold responses of streambed GHG production to warming. We reveal that temperature sensitivity varies with substrate (of variable grain size), organic matter (OM) content and geological origin. Our results confirm that streambeds, with their non-linear response to projected warming, are integral to estimating freshwater ecosystem contributions to current and future global GHG emissions.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04756-x

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