Influence of environmental variables on diffusive greenhouse gas fluxes at hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil/Influencia de parametros ambientais em fluxos difusivos de gases de efeito estufa em reservatorios hidreletricos no Brasil

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2013-11, Vol.73 (4), p.753-753
• Main Authors: Rogerio, J.P, Santos, M.A, Santos, E.O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Emissions; Freshwater; Greenhouse gases; Studies
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/S1519-698420130004000011

For almost two decades, studies have been under way in Brazil, showing how hydroelectric reservoirs produce biogenic gases, mainly methane (CH^sub 4^) and carbon dioxide (CO^sub 2^), through the organic decomposition of flooded biomass. This somewhat complex phenomenon is due to a set of variables with differing levels of interdependence that directly or indirectly affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The purpose of this paper is to determine, through a statistical data analysis, the relation between CO^sub 2^, CH^sub 4^ diffusive fluxes and environmental variables at the Furnas, Itumbiara and Serra da Mesa hydroelectric reservoirs, located in the Cerrado biome on Brazil's high central plateau. The choice of this region was prompted by its importance in the national context, covering an area of some two million square kilometers, encompassing two major river basins (Paraná and Tocantins-Araguaia), with the largest installed power generation capacity in Brazil, together accounting for around 23% of Brazilian territory. This study shows that CH^sub 4^ presented a moderate negative correlation between CO^sub 2^ and depth. Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was noted for pH, water temperature and wind. The CO^sub 2^ presented a moderate negative correlation for pH, wind speed, water temperature and air temperature. Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was noted for CO^sub 2^ and water temperature. The complexity of the emission phenomenon is unlikely to occur through a simultaneous understanding of all the factors, due to difficulties in accessing and analyzing all the variables that have real, direct effects on GHG production and emission. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]