Carbon Trapping Efficiency of Hydropower Reservoirs under the Influence of a Tropical Climate

TL;DR

This paper investigates how tropical climate conditions influence the carbon trapping efficiency of hydroelectric reservoirs, emphasizing sedimentation impacts and carbon accumulation in Brazilian reservoirs.

Contribution

It presents new data on carbon trapping efficiency in seven Brazilian reservoirs and highlights the importance of sedimentation and climate factors in carbon dynamics.

Findings

Reservoirs show significant carbon accumulation influenced by sedimentation.

Tropical climate conditions affect sediment trapping and carbon storage.

Results contribute to understanding reservoirs' role in regional carbon budgets.

Abstract

Sedimentation in hydroelectric reservoirs is strongly impacted by anthropogenic activities within their upstream drainage basins. These activities, encompassing soil erosion and various other human-induced actions, have significant consequences for sedimentation patterns. This issue has been a subject of prolonged study, as sedimentation directly undermines the water storage capacity of reservoirs, consequently diminishing the overall efficiency of hydroelectric operations. Several scientists have dedicated their efforts to addressing the matter of reservoir sedimentation. This pursuit has led to the formulation of an indicator known as Sediment Trap Efficiency (STE), serving as a metric that quantifies the proportion of sedimentation within reservoirs relative to the influx of sediment from their upstream sources. This study seeks to present findings pertaining to carbon trapping efficiency observed across seven hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil. The objective is to demonstrate the substantial relevance of carbon accumulation within these aquatic environments within the context of the carbon balance frameworks previously established.