Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-37-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-37-2021
Research article
 | 
07 Jan 2021
Research article |  | 07 Jan 2021

Historical and future contributions of inland waters to the Congo Basin carbon balance

Adam Hastie, Ronny Lauerwald, Philippe Ciais, Fabrice Papa, and Pierre Regnier

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Cited articles

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We used a model of the Congo Basin to investigate the transfer of carbon (C) from land (vegetation and soils) to inland waters. We estimate that leaching of C to inland waters, emissions of CO2 from the water surface, and the export of C to the coast have all increased over the last century, driven by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and climate change. We predict that these trends may continue through the 21st century and call for long-term monitoring of these fluxes.
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