An outsized contribution of rivers to carbon emissions from interconnected urban river-lake networks within plains

This study explored the patterns of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions and underlying mechanisms in Ge Lake and its tributaries, located in an urban area within a plain in China. The results revealed that carbon emissions from rivers were significantly higher than those from the downstream receiving lake, exhibiting a decrease along the river flow direction. The findings may add the understanding carbon emissions in plain aquatic ecosystems, and benefit the estimates of carbon emissions in these regions with greater precision.