CO 2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions
During August-September 2012, we sampled six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States. for CO 2 and CH 4 emissions via three pathways: diffusive emissions from water surface; ebullition in the water column; and losses from dam tailwaters during power generation. Average total emission rates of CO 2 for the six reservoirs ranged from 1,127 to 2,051 mg m -2 d -1 , which is low to moderate compared to CO 2 emissions rates reported for tropical hydropower reservoirs and boreal ponds and lakes, and similar to rates reported for other temperate reservoirs. Similar average rates for CH 4 were also relatively low, ranging from 5 to 83 mg m -2 d -1 . On a whole-reservoir basis, total emissions of CO 2 ranged nearly 10-fold, from ~51,000 kg per day for Fontana to ~486,000 kg per day for Guntersville, and total emissions of CH 4 ranged nearly 20-fold, from ~5 kg per day for Fontana to ~83 kg per day for Allatoona. Emissions through the tailwater pathway varied among reservoirs, comprising from 20 to 50% of total CO 2 emissions and 0 to 90% of CH 4 emissions, depending on the reservoir. Furthermore, several explanatory factors related to reservoir morphology and water quality were considered for observed differences among reservoirs.