Publications by authors named "H O Sawakuchi"

Operational demands and the natural inflow of water actively drive biweekly fluctuations in water levels in hydropower reservoirs. These daily to weekly fluctuations could have major effects on methane (CH) and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions via release of bubbles from reservoir bottom sediments (ebullition) or organic matter inputs, respectively. The impact of transient fluctuations in water levels on GHG emissions is poorly understood and particularly so in tropical run-of-the-river reservoirs.

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Methane (CH) emissions (F) from northern freshwater lakes are not only significant but also highly variable in time and one driver variable suggested to be important is precipitation. Rain can have various, potentially large effects on F across multiple time frames, and verifying the impact of rain on lake F is key to understand both contemporary flux regulation, and to predict future F related to possible changes in frequency and intensity of rainfall from climate change. The main objective of this study was to assess the short-term impact of typically occurring rain events with different intensity on F from various lake types located in hemiboreal, boreal, and subarctic Sweden.

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Large greenhouse gas emissions occur via the release of carbon dioxide (CO) and methane (CH) from the surface layer of lakes. Such emissions are modeled from the air-water gas concentration gradient and the gas transfer velocity (). The links between and the physical properties of the gas and water have led to the development of methods to convert between gases through Schmidt number normalization.

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Particulate pyrogenic carbon (PyC) transported by rivers and aerosols, and deposited in marine sediments, is an important part of the carbon cycle. The chemical composition of PyC is temperature dependent and levoglucosan is a source-specific burning marker used to trace low-temperature PyC. Levoglucosan associated to particulate material has been shown to be preserved during riverine transport and marine deposition in high- and mid-latitudes, but it is yet unknown if this is also the case for (sub)tropical areas, where 90% of global PyC is produced.

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Article Synopsis
  • The expansion of hydropower in tropical areas, particularly through run-of-the-river (ROR) dams like the Belo Monte dam, is thought to have lower environmental impacts due to smaller reservoirs.
  • Post-damming greenhouse gas emissions in the Belo Monte region are significantly higher (up to three times more) than emissions before the dam was built, with emissions ranging from 15 to 55 kg COeq MWh.
  • Even with the advantages of reduced flooded areas and a focus on power density, the total greenhouse gas emissions from ROR plants in the Amazon are substantial, suggesting that expanding hydropower in this region should be reconsidered regardless of reservoir size.
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