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Las emisiones de metano de agua dulce compensan el sumidero de carbono continental
David Bastviken1, Lars J Tranvik, John A Downing
1Department of Thematic Studies-Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden. david.bastviken@liu.se
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 8, 2011
Resumen
Los ecosistemas de agua dulce interiores liberan una cantidad significativa de metano (CH4), un potente gas de efecto invernadero. Esta emisión compensa una parte sustancial del sumidero de carbono terrestre estimado, lo que pone de relieve la necesidad de incluir los sistemas acuáticos en los presupuestos globales de carbono.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Ciencias ambientales Ciencias ambientales.
- Ecología Ecología Ecología.
- Ciencias del clima Ciencias del clima Ciencias del clima
Sus antecedentes:
- Las aguas interiores como lagos y ríos son reconocidas como fuentes de metano (CH4).
- Estas fuentes no están totalmente integradas en los presupuestos globales de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI).
- La contabilidad precisa de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero es crucial para las estrategias de mitigación del cambio climático.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para cuantificar las emisiones de metano de los ecosistemas de agua dulce interior.
- Evaluar la contribución de las emisiones de CH4 de agua dulce a los presupuestos globales de GEI.
- Para determinar el impacto de las emisiones de CH4 de agua dulce en el sumidero de carbono terrestre.
Principales métodos:
- Se utilizaron datos de 474 diversos ecosistemas de agua dulce.
- Incorporó las estimaciones globales más recientes del área de superficie del agua.
- Calculadas las emisiones de CH4 en teragramas por año y convertidas a equivalentes de dióxido de carbono (CO2).
Principales resultados:
- Los ecosistemas de agua dulce emiten un estimado de 103 teragramas de CH4 anualmente.
- Esta emisión es equivalente a 0,65 petagramos de C como equivalentes de CO2.
- Las emisiones de CH4 de agua dulce compensan aproximadamente el 25% del sumidero de carbono terrestre estimado.
Conclusiones:
- El sumidero continental de gases de efecto invernadero puede estar sobreestimado.
- Las aguas interiores son componentes críticos del ciclo global del carbono.
- Los ecosistemas de agua dulce requieren una consideración explícita en los presupuestos globales de carbono y GEI.
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