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IMAGE: New research will help to quantify the vital role that lakes play in the global carbon cycle. view more
Credit: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
TROY, N.Y. As the planet heats up, are lakes releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? With a prestigious National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant, researcher Kevin Rose will examine large-scale patterns in concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and dissolved oxygen to answer the question.
Dissolved oxygen levels in freshwater lakes are declining, indicating a potential increase in CO2 emissions. Theoretically, freshwater life links CO2 and dissolved oxygen to one another. Algae and plants consume CO2 and produce dissolved oxygen, while animals like zooplankton, fish, and bacteria consume dissolved oxygen and produce CO2. But for many reasons, the relationship between the two measurements has not been rigorously tested.