U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
CO2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions
Abstract
During August-September 2012, we sampled six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States. for CO2 and CH4 emissions via three pathways: diffusive emissions from water surface; ebullition in the water column; and losses from dam tailwaters during power generation. Average total emission rates of CO2 for the six reservoirs ranged from 1,127 to 2,051 mg m-2 d-1, which is low to moderate compared to CO2 emissions rates reported for tropical hydropower reservoirs and boreal ponds and lakes, and similar to rates reported for other temperate reservoirs. Similar average rates for CH4 were also relatively low, ranging from 5 to 83 mg m-2 d-1. On a whole-reservoir basis, total emissions of CO2 ranged nearly 10-fold, from ~51,000 kg per day for Fontana to ~486,000 kg per day for Guntersville, and total emissions of CH4 ranged nearly 20-fold, from ~5 kg per day for Fontana to ~83 kg per day for Allatoona. Emissions through the tailwater pathway varied among reservoirs, comprising from 20 to 50% of total CO2 emissions and 0 to 90% of CH4 emissions, depending on the reservoir. Furthermore, several explanatory factors related to reservoir morphology and water quality were considered for observed differences among reservoirs.
- Authors:
-
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Xcel Engineering, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Oak Ridge Associated Univ., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Marshall Univ., Huntington, WV (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1234326
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Water (Basel)
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 2073-4441
- Publisher:
- MDPI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 13 HYDRO ENERGY; CH4; CO2; greenhouse gas emissions; hydropower; reservoir
Citation Formats
Bevelhimer, Mark S., Stewart, Aurthur J., Fortner, Allison M., Phillips, Jana Randolph, and Mosher, Jennifer J. CO2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.3390/w8010015.
Bevelhimer, Mark S., Stewart, Aurthur J., Fortner, Allison M., Phillips, Jana Randolph, & Mosher, Jennifer J. CO2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions. United States. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8010015
Bevelhimer, Mark S., Stewart, Aurthur J., Fortner, Allison M., Phillips, Jana Randolph, and Mosher, Jennifer J. 2016.
"CO2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions". United States. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8010015. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1234326.
@article{osti_1234326,
title = {CO2 is dominant greenhouse gas emitted from six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States during peak summer emissions},
author = {Bevelhimer, Mark S. and Stewart, Aurthur J. and Fortner, Allison M. and Phillips, Jana Randolph and Mosher, Jennifer J.},
abstractNote = {During August-September 2012, we sampled six hydropower reservoirs in southeastern United States. for CO2 and CH4 emissions via three pathways: diffusive emissions from water surface; ebullition in the water column; and losses from dam tailwaters during power generation. Average total emission rates of CO2 for the six reservoirs ranged from 1,127 to 2,051 mg m-2 d-1, which is low to moderate compared to CO2 emissions rates reported for tropical hydropower reservoirs and boreal ponds and lakes, and similar to rates reported for other temperate reservoirs. Similar average rates for CH4 were also relatively low, ranging from 5 to 83 mg m-2 d-1. On a whole-reservoir basis, total emissions of CO2 ranged nearly 10-fold, from ~51,000 kg per day for Fontana to ~486,000 kg per day for Guntersville, and total emissions of CH4 ranged nearly 20-fold, from ~5 kg per day for Fontana to ~83 kg per day for Allatoona. Emissions through the tailwater pathway varied among reservoirs, comprising from 20 to 50% of total CO2 emissions and 0 to 90% of CH4 emissions, depending on the reservoir. Furthermore, several explanatory factors related to reservoir morphology and water quality were considered for observed differences among reservoirs.},
doi = {10.3390/w8010015},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1234326},
journal = {Water (Basel)},
issn = {2073-4441},
number = ,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
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