Influence of physicochemical water characteristics in the transport of methane to the atmosphere at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, RJ

Abstract

The accumulation and decomposition of organic matter in water bodies can increase the potential emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. In this study, in a prospective and exploratory way, we evaluated the relationship between physicochemical characteristics of water on the transport of methane to the atmosphere at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, RJ. In 2011, campaigns were carried out in which 200 samples were collected for analysis of superficial methane emission and 30 water samples were collected to verify the dissolution of this gas in the water column, measuring simultaneously both the physicochemical water parameters along this column. The methane flow measurements showed that this lagoon is a source methane emission to the atmosphere with an average flux of 33 ± 10 mgCH4m-2d-1. The evaluation of limnological parameters that could affect the emission flux revealed that the water depth and temperature were the most influential factors in this process. A profile analysis of methane in the water column suggests the existence of a higher concentration of this gas in the region of the sedimentary strata at the bottom of the lagoon. However, the potential emission may not reach the surface, possibly due to the decrease in the rate of vertical diffusion of methane, as a result of the increase of pressure with depth and the presence of methanotrophic bacterias that consume methane throughout the water column.

Keywords

• Greenhouse effect, trace gases, limnology