Lakes Amplify Carbon Emissions Relative to Downstream Export in Aquatic Networks
Abstract
Inland waters emit and export large quantities of carbon (C), and the balance between emission and export determines the role of inland waters in the global C cycle. Modeling studies of stream‐lake networks suggest that C emission‐to‐export ratios (emission:export) are higher in lake‐rich networks with longer network residence times (NRT), yet empirical evidence supporting these patterns remains limited. We sampled 362 stream segments and 42 lakes across 32 nested arctic stream‐lake networks, repeated across four seasons with contrasting environmental conditions. The data show that lake‐rich networks have much longer NRT and higher C emission:export regardless of environmental conditions, while overall C emission:export increased during warmer low‐flow periods. Our findings stress the importance of accounting for lakes within stream networks and simultaneously quantifying multiple C fates when assessing the role of inland waters in the C cycle.
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BibTeX
@article{alriksson2026lakes,
title = {{Lakes Amplify Carbon Emissions Relative to Downstream Export in Aquatic Networks}},
author = {F. Alriksson and G. Rocher-Ros and M. Klaus and C. Gudasz and V. Hazuková and D. Vachon and L. Polvi and M. Rosvall and J. Karlsson},
journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1029/2025gl120340},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05767785v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lakes Amplify Carbon Emissions Relative to Downstream Export in Aquatic Networks
AU - F. Alriksson
AU - G. Rocher-Ros
AU - M. Klaus
AU - C. Gudasz
AU - V. Hazuková
AU - D. Vachon
AU - L. Polvi
AU - M. Rosvall
AU - J. Karlsson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/25
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
DO - 10.1029/2025gl120340
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05767785v1
AB - Inland waters emit and export large quantities of carbon (C), and the balance between emission and export determines the role of inland waters in the global C cycle. Modeling studies of stream‐lake networks suggest that C emission‐to‐export ratios (emission:export) are higher in lake‐rich networks with longer network residence times (NRT), yet empirical evidence supporting these patterns remains limited. We sampled 362 stream segments and 42 lakes across 32 nested arctic stream‐lake networks, repeated across four seasons with contrasting environmental conditions. The data show that lake‐rich networks have much longer NRT and higher C emission:export regardless of environmental conditions, while overall C emission:export increased during warmer low‐flow periods. Our findings stress the importance of accounting for lakes within stream networks and simultaneously quantifying multiple C fates when assessing the role of inland waters in the C cycle.
SN - 0094-8276
SN - 1944-8007
ER -