Changes in groundwater storage represent a significant source of  atmospheric CO2 in China

Quanzhou Li; Yun Pan; Chong Zhang; Qingquan Zhang; Changqing Li; Huan Huang; Huili Gong

doi:10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2024.100094

The Innovation Geoscience > 2024 Vol. 2 > No. 4 > 100094

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Changes in groundwater storage represent a significant source of atmospheric CO₂ in China

1.
Beijing Laboratory of Water Resources Security, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
2.
College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
3.
China Institute for Geo–Environmental Monitoring, Beijing 100081, China

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Corresponding author: pan@cnu.edu.cn
Received Date: March 23, 2024

Accepted Date: September 04, 2024

Published Online: September 26, 2024

The Innovation Geoscience 2(4), https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2024.100094 | Cite this article

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PUBLIC SUMMARY
1. The CO₂ emission due to groundwater storage change in China is estimated to be 2.1±2.3 Mt/yr in 2003–2015.
  
  Groundwater storage change exceeds 15% emission sources listed in China Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets.
  
  China’s groundwater overdraft control will lead to a total reduction of 5.3 Mt CO₂ by 2025.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Recent studies show that groundwater depletion is an unreported source of atmospheric CO₂ through bicarbonate reactions in the groundwater released from aquifer. However, the depletion can be mitigated or offset by recharge, and thus the contrasting roles of depletion and recharge on carbon cycle remain unclear at a national scale. Here, we extend previous studies to use the satellite–derived groundwater storage change (GWSC) and substantial in situ measurements of the bicarbonate ion concentration (BIC), for the first time evaluation of GWSC–induced CO₂ emission/sequestration in China. Results show that the GWSC represents as a significant source of atmospheric CO₂ in China, with a net CO₂ emission rate of 2.1±2.3 Mt/yr, which is larger than 15% of the emission sources listed in China Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets. Besides, emission and sequestration induced by groundwater storage (GWS) decrease and increase is also significant, with a rate of 3.9±1.1 Mt/yr and 1.8±1.2 Mt/yr, respectively. Notably, we also find that China’s stricter groundwater measures can contribute a total reduction of 5.3 Mt CO₂ emission in the major overdraft areas by 2025. Despite of notable uncertainties, this study highlights the unneglectable contributions of GWSC to atmospheric CO₂ emission and sequestration at a national to global scale.
- carbon /
- carbon source and sink /
- GRACE /
- groundwater storage change /
- groundwater chemistry

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Li Q., Pan Y., Zhang C., et al., (2024). Changes in groundwater storage represent a significant source of atmospheric CO2 in China. The Innovation Geoscience 2(4): 100094. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2024.100094

Li Q., Pan Y., Zhang C., et al., (2024). Changes in groundwater storage represent a significant source of atmospheric CO₂ in China. The Innovation Geoscience 2(4): 100094. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2024.100094

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