Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions

Lake groundwater discharge (LGD) represents a critical but underappreciated source of greenhouse gases in lacustrine systems, though its governing mechanisms and quantitative significance are not yet clearly defined. This investigation focuses on Hulun Lake, a representative eutrophic lake in China’...

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Main Authors: Zhexin Li, Zenglong Wang, Mengyong Xue, Nan Shan, Xiaoguang Xu, Wanru Yang, Xiaomin Gu, Chuang Zhao, Qianyong Wang, Muren Bao, Wenlin Wang, Bo Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006478
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author Zhexin Li
Zenglong Wang
Mengyong Xue
Nan Shan
Xiaoguang Xu
Wanru Yang
Xiaomin Gu
Chuang Zhao
Qianyong Wang
Muren Bao
Wenlin Wang
Bo Liu
author_facet Zhexin Li
Zenglong Wang
Mengyong Xue
Nan Shan
Xiaoguang Xu
Wanru Yang
Xiaomin Gu
Chuang Zhao
Qianyong Wang
Muren Bao
Wenlin Wang
Bo Liu
author_sort Zhexin Li
collection DOAJ
description Lake groundwater discharge (LGD) represents a critical but underappreciated source of greenhouse gases in lacustrine systems, though its governing mechanisms and quantitative significance are not yet clearly defined. This investigation focuses on Hulun Lake, a representative eutrophic lake in China’s cold-arid northern regions, through integrated analysis of stable isotope signatures (δ13C-CO2, δ13C-CH4, δ13C-DIC). We employed 222Rn mass balance modeling and greenhouse gas flux quantification to assess LGD’s contribution to CO2 and CH4 emissions. Results demonstrate elevated carbon component concentrations in groundwater relative to surface waters (DOC: groundwater 1755.50 μmol/L vs. lake water 1480.00 μmol/L vs. river water 933.25 μmol/L; DIC: groundwater 5089.00 μmol/L vs. lake water 7311.00 μmol/L vs. river water 3345.75 μmol/L). Groundwater exhibits higher mean dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations compared to lake water (CO2: 2.300 vs. 0.458 μmol/L; CH4: 0.029 vs. 0.027 μmol/L). Isotopic evidence confirms hydrological connectivity between groundwater and lake systems. Quantitative analysis reveals LGD accounts for 14.7 % of lacustrine CO2 emissions and 12.3 % of CH4 emissions. These findings establish LGD as a critical regulator of carbon biogeochemical cycling in lake ecosystems, necessitating its systematic integration into regional carbon budget assessments. The demonstrated significance of LGD in carbon dynamics underscores its essential consideration in regional and global carbon cycle models.
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spelling doaj-art-2b17e4d82a034a44b4bad389a2248cff2025-08-20T03:31:10ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-07-0117611371710.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113717Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regionsZhexin Li0Zenglong Wang1Mengyong Xue2Nan Shan3Xiaoguang Xu4Wanru Yang5Xiaomin Gu6Chuang Zhao7Qianyong Wang8Muren Bao9Wenlin Wang10Bo Liu11School of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaHulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid Areas, Hulunbuir 021000, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaSchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; Corresponding author.Lake groundwater discharge (LGD) represents a critical but underappreciated source of greenhouse gases in lacustrine systems, though its governing mechanisms and quantitative significance are not yet clearly defined. This investigation focuses on Hulun Lake, a representative eutrophic lake in China’s cold-arid northern regions, through integrated analysis of stable isotope signatures (δ13C-CO2, δ13C-CH4, δ13C-DIC). We employed 222Rn mass balance modeling and greenhouse gas flux quantification to assess LGD’s contribution to CO2 and CH4 emissions. Results demonstrate elevated carbon component concentrations in groundwater relative to surface waters (DOC: groundwater 1755.50 μmol/L vs. lake water 1480.00 μmol/L vs. river water 933.25 μmol/L; DIC: groundwater 5089.00 μmol/L vs. lake water 7311.00 μmol/L vs. river water 3345.75 μmol/L). Groundwater exhibits higher mean dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations compared to lake water (CO2: 2.300 vs. 0.458 μmol/L; CH4: 0.029 vs. 0.027 μmol/L). Isotopic evidence confirms hydrological connectivity between groundwater and lake systems. Quantitative analysis reveals LGD accounts for 14.7 % of lacustrine CO2 emissions and 12.3 % of CH4 emissions. These findings establish LGD as a critical regulator of carbon biogeochemical cycling in lake ecosystems, necessitating its systematic integration into regional carbon budget assessments. The demonstrated significance of LGD in carbon dynamics underscores its essential consideration in regional and global carbon cycle models.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006478Lake groundwater dischargeGreenhouse gas emissionsRadonEutrophic steppe lakes
spellingShingle Zhexin Li
Zenglong Wang
Mengyong Xue
Nan Shan
Xiaoguang Xu
Wanru Yang
Xiaomin Gu
Chuang Zhao
Qianyong Wang
Muren Bao
Wenlin Wang
Bo Liu
Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
Ecological Indicators
Lake groundwater discharge
Greenhouse gas emissions
Radon
Eutrophic steppe lakes
title Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
title_full Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
title_fullStr Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
title_full_unstemmed Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
title_short Contribution of LGD source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
title_sort contribution of lgd source carbon to the carbon emission of eutrophic steppe lakes in northern cold and arid regions
topic Lake groundwater discharge
Greenhouse gas emissions
Radon
Eutrophic steppe lakes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25006478
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