Spatial heterogeneity of dissolved CH4 in typical tributary bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir during high water level operation

ZHANG Xin-yi; LIU Jia; XIAO Shang-bin; CHEN Min; KANG Man-chun; YANG Zheng-jian; JI Dao-bin; MENG Jiang-huai; LI Hong

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China Environmental Science ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5) : 2875-2883.

Spatial heterogeneity of dissolved CH₄ in typical tributary bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir during high water level operation

ZHANG Xin-yi^1,2, LIU Jia^1,2,3, XIAO Shang-bin^1,2, CHEN Min^1,2, KANG Man-chun^1,2, YANG Zheng-jian^1,2, JI Dao-bin^1,2, MENG Jiang-huai^1,2, LI Hong¹

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Abstract

To investigate the impact of density currents brought by the mainstream of Yangtze River on the distribution of dissolved CH₄ in its tributaries, three representative tributaries-Xiaojiang, Daning, and Shennong Rivers were selected as the study sites. Spatial measurements of dissolved methane (CH₄) concentrations in the surface water were conducted using a Fast-Response Automated Gas Equilibrator (FaRAGE) coupled with a greenhouse gas analyzer. The results were shown to vary in CH₄ concentrations among the tributaries, with average concentrations being (0.06±0.02)μmol/L in Xiaojiang, (0.17±0.12)μmol/L in Daning, and (0.16±0.14)μmol/L in Shennong Bays. The CH₄ concentrations in these three bays were also found to exhibit distinct spatial heterogeneities. In Xiaojiang Bay, a pattern was observed where high surface concentrations and low bottom concentrations were present in the midstream, while higher concentrations were found at the bottom compared to the surface in both the upstream and downstream areas. Comparable distribution patterns of CH₄ concentrations were noted in Daning Bay and Shennong Bay, characterized by higher concentrations upstream compared to downstream, and higher concentrations at the bottom layer relative to the surface layer. It was found that the distribution of dissolved CH₄ concentrations in the tributary bays was influenced by environmental factors. Furthermore, the density currents from the mainstream were not only found to dilute the dissolved CH₄concentrations in the bays but also indirectly altered their distributions by influencing the hydrological and hydrodynamic processes within the tributary bays. The integrated effects revealed the complex dynamic processes of CH₄ production and consumption within the bay ecosystems, which were of great significance for understanding and predicting the greenhouse gas emissions from the bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir.

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density currents / dissolved methane / spatial heterogeneity / Three Gorges Reservoir

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ZHANG Xin-yi, LIU Jia, XIAO Shang-bin, CHEN Min, KANG Man-chun, YANG Zheng-jian, JI Dao-bin, MENG Jiang-huai, LI Hong. Spatial heterogeneity of dissolved CH₄ in typical tributary bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir during high water level operation[J]. China Environmental Science. 2025, 45(5): 2875-2883

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