Algal short-term greenhouse effect

In eutrophic lakes, the proliferating algae sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and store it in the form of biomass organic carbon (OC). The high biodegradability of this endogenous OC, however, can generate anaerobic conditions and facilitate methane (CH4) production. This process of sequestered CO2 to higher radiative forcing CH4 has the potential to add CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq) to the atmosphere. This study conducted the first analysis of carbon budgets associated with algae in eutrophic lakes from a life cycle perspective and predicted the impact of future climate warming and nutrient reduction on this effect using machine learning.