Numerical modeling: A complementary tool for studying CO 2 emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs

• Published in: Global biogeochemical cycles 2002-12, Vol.16 (4)
• Main Authors: Barrette, Nathalie, Laprise, Rene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0886-6236; 1944-9224
• DOI: 10.1029/2002GB001976

In 1993, a vast study began on the production and emission of CO 2 from hydroelectric reservoirs in central northern Québec. During the sampling field trips, information was collected about water temperature profiles, CO 2 surface atmospheric concentrations, dissolved CO 2 concentration profiles through the depth of the reservoirs, and CO 2 fluxes at the surface and the bottom of the reservoirs, as well as many surface meteorological parameters. One of the goals of the project was to develop a mathematical model capable of simulating the physical processes responsible for the vertical transport of dissolved CO 2 in hydroelectric reservoirs. This combined approach of measurements and numerical modeling confirmed certain hypotheses concerning the missing source of CO 2 , the existence of a spring peak of CO 2 emission and an intense fall peak of CO 2 emission for deep reservoirs. Moreover, a relation between differences in patterns of CO 2 emission and reservoir depth was highlighted. It is shown that the numerical model developed in this research can be used to develop sampling strategies based on the characteristics of temporal and spatial distributions associated with each reservoir.