Eutrophication will increase methane emissions from lakes and impoundments during the 21st century

Abstract Lakes and impoundments are an important source of methane (CH 4 ), a potent greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. A recent analysis shows aquatic productivity (i.e., eutrophication) is an important driver of CH 4 emissions from lentic waters. Considering that aquatic productivity will increase over the next century due to climate change and a growing human population, a concomitant increase in aquatic CH 4 emissions may occur. We simulate the eutrophication of lentic waters under scenarios of future nutrient loading to inland waters and show that enhanced eutrophication of lakes and impoundments will substantially increase CH 4 emissions from these systems (+30–90%) over the next century. This increased…

• UE
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• H
  Hydro-Québec
• MS
  Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada