DIoxide Carbon patTerns in high Alkaline waTers Of the Rhone basin (DICTATOR)

Most of inland waters have CO2concentrations that are supersaturated relative to the atmosphere, thus contributing significantly to global CO2 emissions. CO2 supersaturation patterns are commonly attributed to the respiration of terrestrial organic matter – either within aquatic ecosystems or derived from terrestrial landscape – and dissolved inorganic carbon hydrological inputs from the watershed. Carbonate weathering has been evidenced as a driver of COsupersaturation, however, corresponding underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this project is to investigate in details the dynamics of the carbonate system in the Rhône River, a high alkaline system, and further constrain its role as a buffer or enhancing factor regarding CO2concentrations and emissions. This project is complementary to the CARBOGEN project which focuses on the carbon cycle in Lake Geneva.

Contact: Nicolas Escoffier, Thibault Lambert, Marie-Elodie Perga.

See : Escoffier, N. , Perolo, P., Lambert, T., Rüegg, J., Odermatt, D., Adatte, T., Vennemann, T., Perga M.E. (in press). Whiting events in a large peri-alpine lake: Evidence of a catchment-scale process. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.