Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams

Abstract Gas transfer velocity (k600) controls gas fluxes between aquatic ecosystems and the atmosphere. In streams, k600 is controlled by turbulence and, thus, local hydrology and geomorphology. Resultantly, variability in k600 can be large and modeling k600 from physical parameters can have large...

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Main Authors: Kelly S. Aho, Kaelin M. Cawley, Robert O. Hall Jr., Robert T. Hensley, Walter K. Dodds, Nicolas Harrison, Keli J. Goodman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Limnology and Oceanography Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70003
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author Kelly S. Aho
Kaelin M. Cawley
Robert O. Hall Jr.
Robert T. Hensley
Walter K. Dodds
Nicolas Harrison
Keli J. Goodman
author_facet Kelly S. Aho
Kaelin M. Cawley
Robert O. Hall Jr.
Robert T. Hensley
Walter K. Dodds
Nicolas Harrison
Keli J. Goodman
author_sort Kelly S. Aho
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gas transfer velocity (k600) controls gas fluxes between aquatic ecosystems and the atmosphere. In streams, k600 is controlled by turbulence and, thus, local hydrology and geomorphology. Resultantly, variability in k600 can be large and modeling k600 from physical parameters can have large uncertainty. Here, we leverage a large dataset of k600 estimates derived from tracer‐gas experiments in 22 US streams across a range of discharges. Our analysis shows that k600 was highly variable both spatially across and temporally within streams, with estimates of k600 spanning three orders of magnitude. Overall, k600 scaled with discharge in steep streams due to relatively high stream power, but not in low‐slope streams, where stream power was relatively low even at high flows. Understanding how k600 responds to stream discharge in a wide variety of streams is key to creating temporally and spatially resolved estimates of biogeochemical processes in streams.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2378-2242
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Limnology and Oceanography Letters
spelling doaj-art-a110d2bba04b4510884f1b2dc40173f32025-08-20T02:34:24ZengWileyLimnology and Oceanography Letters2378-22422025-06-0110330831710.1002/lol2.70003Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streamsKelly S. Aho0Kaelin M. Cawley1Robert O. Hall Jr.2Robert T. Hensley3Walter K. Dodds4Nicolas Harrison5Keli J. Goodman6Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Department of Integrative Biology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USANational Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USAFlathead Lake Biological Station University of Montana Polson Montana USANational Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USADivision of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas USANational Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USANational Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USAAbstract Gas transfer velocity (k600) controls gas fluxes between aquatic ecosystems and the atmosphere. In streams, k600 is controlled by turbulence and, thus, local hydrology and geomorphology. Resultantly, variability in k600 can be large and modeling k600 from physical parameters can have large uncertainty. Here, we leverage a large dataset of k600 estimates derived from tracer‐gas experiments in 22 US streams across a range of discharges. Our analysis shows that k600 was highly variable both spatially across and temporally within streams, with estimates of k600 spanning three orders of magnitude. Overall, k600 scaled with discharge in steep streams due to relatively high stream power, but not in low‐slope streams, where stream power was relatively low even at high flows. Understanding how k600 responds to stream discharge in a wide variety of streams is key to creating temporally and spatially resolved estimates of biogeochemical processes in streams.https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70003
spellingShingle Kelly S. Aho
Kaelin M. Cawley
Robert O. Hall Jr.
Robert T. Hensley
Walter K. Dodds
Nicolas Harrison
Keli J. Goodman
Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
Limnology and Oceanography Letters
title Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
title_full Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
title_fullStr Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
title_full_unstemmed Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
title_short Gas transfer velocity (k600) increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low‐slope streams
title_sort gas transfer velocity k600 increases with discharge in steep streams but not in low slope streams
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70003
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