River ecosystem metabolism and carbon biogeochemistry in a changing world

Tom J. Battin (), Ronny Lauerwald, Emily S. Bernhardt, Enrico Bertuzzo, Lluís Gómez Gener, Robert O. Hall, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Taylor Maavara, Tamlin M. Pavelsky, Lishan Ran, Peter Raymond, Judith A. Rosentreter and Pierre Regnier
Additional contact information
Tom J. Battin: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Ronny Lauerwald: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYS
Emily S. Bernhardt: Duke University
Enrico Bertuzzo: Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia
Lluís Gómez Gener: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Robert O. Hall: University of Montana
Erin R. Hotchkiss: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Taylor Maavara: University of Leeds
Tamlin M. Pavelsky: University of North Carolina
Lishan Ran: The University of Hong Kong
Peter Raymond: Yale University
Judith A. Rosentreter: Yale University
Pierre Regnier: Université Libre de Bruxelles

Nature, 2023, vol. 613, issue 7944, 449-459

Abstract: Abstract River networks represent the largest biogeochemical nexus between the continents, ocean and atmosphere. Our current understanding of the role of rivers in the global carbon cycle remains limited, which makes it difficult to predict how global change may alter the timing and spatial distribution of riverine carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. Here we review the state of river ecosystem metabolism research and synthesize the current best available estimates of river ecosystem metabolism. We quantify the organic and inorganic carbon flux from land to global rivers and show that their net ecosystem production and carbon dioxide emissions shift the organic to inorganic carbon balance en route from land to the coastal ocean. Furthermore, we discuss how global change may affect river ecosystem metabolism and related carbon fluxes and identify research directions that can help to develop better predictions of the effects of global change on riverine ecosystem processes. We argue that a global river observing system will play a key role in understanding river networks and their future evolution in the context of the global carbon budget.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05500-8

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