Aquatic methane dynamics in a human‐impacted river‐floodplain of the Danube

Abstract

River‐floodplain systems are characterized by changing hydrological connectivity and variability of resources delivered to floodplain water bodies. Although the importance of hydrological events has been recognized, the effect of flooding on CH 4 concentrations and emissions from European, human‐impacted river‐floodplains is largely unknown. This study evaluates aquatic concentrations and emissions of CH 4 from a highly modified, yet partly restored river‐floodplain system of the Danube near Vienna (Austria). We covered a broad range of hydrological conditions, including a 1‐yr flood event in 2012 and a 100‐yr flood in 2013. Our findings demonstrate that river‐floodplain waters were supersaturated with CH 4 , hence always serving as a source of CH 4 to the atmosphere. Hydrologically isolated habitats in general have higher concentrations and produce higher fluxes despite lower physically defined velocities. During surface connection, however, CH 4 is exported from the floodplain to the river, suggesting that the main channel serves as an “exhaust pipe” for the floodplain. This mechanism was especially important during the 100‐yr flood, when a clear pulse of CH 4 was flushed from the floodplain with surface floodwaters. Our results emphasize the importance of floods differing in magnitude for methane evasion from river‐floodplains; 34% more CH 4 was emitted from the entire system during the year with the 100‐yr flood compared to a hydrologically “normal” year. Compared to the main river channel, semi‐isolated floodplain waters were particularly strong sources of CH 4. Our findings also imply that the predicted increased frequency of extreme flooding events will have significant consequences for methane emission from river‐floodplain systems.

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