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Patterns in p CO 2 in boreal streams and rivers of northern Quebec, Canada
Author(s) -
Teodoru Cristian R.,
del Giorgio Paul A.,
Prairie Yves T.,
Camire Martine
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2008gb003404
Subject(s) - streams , boreal , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , tributary , wetland , surface water , ecology , geology , geography , computer network , geotechnical engineering , cartography , environmental engineering , computer science , biology
Here we examine the patterns in carbon dioxide partial pressure ( p CO 2 ) measured in a number of small boreal streams (<5 km in length) in the northwestern boreal region of Québec during the ice‐free season and compare these to the patterns found in a major river (Eastmain River) and in a tributary in the same region. All systems were consistently supersaturated in CO 2 (range 450 to 5000 μ atm) streams having both higher (mean 1850 μ atm) and more variable p CO 2 than that of rivers (range 550 to 800 μ atm). Stream p CO 2 was positively related to DOC concentration and stream segment length, both suggesting a direct influence of the surrounding landscape. Calculated stream water‐air CO 2 fluxes ranged from 700 to over 3000 mg C m −2 d −1 , up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those measured in large rivers and lakes of the same region. Small streams, despite their extremely reduced areal coverage (1% of the aquatic surface), accounted for 25% of the total aquatic C emissions, and the resulting areal stream fluxes were comparable to those measured in different soils or wetlands in the region.