Greenhouse Gas Instrumentation System for Aquatic Ecosystems (GHG-Aqua)

Lead Research Organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY
Department Name: Soils and Land Use (Bangor)

Abstract

Land-use and agriculture are responsible for around one quarter of all human greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While some of the activities that contribute to these emissions, such as deforestation, are readily observable, others are not. It is now recognised that freshwater ecosystems are active components of the global carbon cycle; rivers and lakes process the organic matter and nutrients they receive from their catchments, emit carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane to the atmosphere, sequester CO2 through aquatic primary production, and bury carbon in their sediments. Human activities such as nutrient and organic matter pollution from agriculture and urban wastewater, modification of drainage networks, and the widespread creation of new water bodies, from farm ponds to hydro-electric and water supply reservoirs, have greatly modified natural aquatic biogeochemical processes. In some inland waters, this has led to large GHG emissions to the atmosphere. However these emissions are highly variable in time and space, occur via a range of pathways, and are consequently exceptionally hard to measure on the temporal and spatial scales required. Advances in technology, including high-frequency monitoring systems, autonomous boat-mounted sensors and novel, low-cost automated systems that can be operated remotely across multiple locations, now offer the potential to capture these important but poorly understood emissions.

In the GHG-Aqua project we will establish an integrated, UK-wide system for measuring aquatic GHG emissions, combining a core of highly instrumented 'Sentinel' sites with a distributed, community-run network of low-cost sensor systems deployed across UK inland waters to measure emissions from rivers, lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs across gradients of human disturbance. A mobile instrument suite will enable detailed campaign-based assessment of vertical and spatial variations in fluxes and underlying processes. This globally unique and highly integrated measurement system will transform our capability to quantify aquatic GHG emissions from inland waters. With the support of a large community of researchers it will help to make the UK a world-leader in the field, and will facilitate future national and international scientific research to understand the role of natural and constructed waterbodies as active zones of carbon cycling, and sources and sinks for GHGs. We will work with government to include these fluxes in the UK's national emissions inventory; with the water industry to support their operational climate change mitigation targets; and with charities, agencies and others engaged in protecting and restoring freshwater environments to ensure that the climate change mitigation benefits of their activities can be captured, reported and sustained through effectively targeted investment.

Publications

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Description IAPETUS2 DTP awarded to Emily Simpson: Beavers and climate change mitigation in freshwater systems
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 04/2027
 
Description NERC Short Term Funding - Net Zero
Amount £562,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2021 
End 03/2022
 
Description Policy Fund Award from Policy@Manchester
Amount £17,950 (GBP)
Organisation University of Manchester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 05/2024
 
Description Advisory board, Dutch NOBV peatland project 
Organisation Deltares
Country Netherlands 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Chris Evans was appointed as a member of the international scientific advisory board of the Dutch NOBV peatland project, and has attended two meetings and field site visits in the Netherlands. The project is developing methods to quantify GHG emissions from agriculturally managed peatlands, including a significant contribution from ditches and canals, using a combination of flux towers and floating chambers, so the engagement has led to a two-way exchange of methods, results and ideas. The project involves engagement with Dutch government and farming representatives and also other international researchers working on this topic.
Collaborator Contribution See previous response. A member of the NOBV team attended the Fenland Soil conference in Ely, April 2023
Impact Collaboration has led to ongoing engagement on measurement methods, mitigation options and comparison of results
Start Year 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua - Broads Authority 
Organisation Broads Authority
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The GHG Aqua team have collaborated with the Broads Authority to conduct an initial survey of GHGs in water bodies across the area, that took place in July 2021. We have since been in touch with our results and have been discussing options for future research in the area using the GHG Aqua platform.
Collaborator Contribution Facilitation of site access and an enthusiasm about the research area and how they can engage with GHG Aqua.
Impact Presentation of GHGs from water bodies across the Broads given to the Broads Authority partners by Amy Pickard on 10 Jan 2022. First data set on GHGs from water bodies across the Broads.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua - DCWW 
Organisation Welsh Water
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have outlined the opportunities presented by GHG Aqua to DCWW in a number of meetings, and have confirmed with them that Llyn Cefni is a site of interest - hopefully as one of our sentinel sites. We are now scoping the site and preparing logistics for installation of equipment.
Collaborator Contribution Identifying infrastructure available for GHG Aqua equipment, including a buoy, contacting relevant local stakeholders and engaging in a collaborative manner towards GHG Aqua aims.
Impact None yet - 2 pager outlining plans in process.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua - Edinburgh University 
Organisation University of Edinburgh
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Co-I Helfter engaged with the University to develop an E4 DTP proposal, with GHG Aqua data underpinning this idea: https://www.ed.ac.uk/e4-dtp/how-to-apply/supervisor-led-projects/project?item=1519
Collaborator Contribution Development of the idea and expertise on remote sensing capabilities
Impact Awaiting outcome
Start Year 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua - Linkoping University 
Organisation Linkoping University
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution GHG Aqua are taking forward Linkoping's AFC design within the project, and are in touch with the Linkoping team to discuss scaling up AFC outputs as well as enhancing usability for non-scientists.
Collaborator Contribution Linkoping have shared the AFC design and helped to identify suitable supply chains to keep the build costs low.
Impact AFC training sessions with Thanh Duc Nguyen. Identification of suitable sub-contractor for the AFC build.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua - National Trust 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have been in touch with the NT to take forward Esthwaite Water as one of our sentinel sites for GHG Aqua. We have delivered site scoping plans and details of our monitoring to relevant partners, and are now drawing up a licence for the deployment.
Collaborator Contribution NT are arranging a licence for our activities, and have joined us on a site visit to identify a suitable deployment locaiton at Esthwaite.
Impact None yet - licence pending.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua - SCALAR bid 
Organisation Queen Mary University of London
Department School of Geography
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Co-I Amy Pickard contributed to proposal development, with GHG Aqua data underpinning upscaling of methane emissions
Collaborator Contribution Expertise in microbial processes to understand production pathways and model upscaling to incorporate aquatic methane into land surface models
Impact Submission of EOI for NERC large grant to take forward aquatic methane research
Start Year 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua - SCALAR bid 
Organisation University of Exeter
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Co-I Amy Pickard contributed to proposal development, with GHG Aqua data underpinning upscaling of methane emissions
Collaborator Contribution Expertise in microbial processes to understand production pathways and model upscaling to incorporate aquatic methane into land surface models
Impact Submission of EOI for NERC large grant to take forward aquatic methane research
Start Year 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua - SCALAR bid 
Organisation University of Warwick
Department School of Life Sciences
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Co-I Amy Pickard contributed to proposal development, with GHG Aqua data underpinning upscaling of methane emissions
Collaborator Contribution Expertise in microbial processes to understand production pathways and model upscaling to incorporate aquatic methane into land surface models
Impact Submission of EOI for NERC large grant to take forward aquatic methane research
Start Year 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua - UKCEH/National Trust/University of Birmingham CENTA DTP proposal 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The GHG Aqua team conceived a study to measure GHGs from ornamental ponds owned and managed by the NT, which may be a large source of GHGs as they can be nutrient impacted.
Collaborator Contribution Contribution to the PhD proposal, and enthusiasm about GHG Aqua.
Impact Unfortunately the PhD proposal did not receive any applications, however we are taking forward discussions for future work on ornamental ponds with the NT.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua - UKCEH/National Trust/University of Birmingham CENTA DTP proposal 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The GHG Aqua team conceived a study to measure GHGs from ornamental ponds owned and managed by the NT, which may be a large source of GHGs as they can be nutrient impacted.
Collaborator Contribution Contribution to the PhD proposal, and enthusiasm about GHG Aqua.
Impact Unfortunately the PhD proposal did not receive any applications, however we are taking forward discussions for future work on ornamental ponds with the NT.
Start Year 2021
 
Description GHG-Aqua - Collaboration with University of Johannesburg 
Organisation University of Johannesburg
Country South Africa 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Partnership established to establish aquatic GHG measurements on reservoirs and ponds in South Africa using GHG Aqua methods and designs.
Collaborator Contribution Establishment of field programme, liaison with local manufacturers to build GHG sensor systems, collaborative funding proposals.
Impact Field research programme currently being developed, so no outputs yet. Awaiting outcome of funding application for GHG-Aqua aligned equipment in S Africa.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Liverpool University ditch workshop 
Organisation University of Liverpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution GHG Aqua team contributed to an international workshop hosted by the University of Liverpool on the biogeochemistry, hydrology and ecology of ditches, including their role as sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Collaborator Contribution Presentations, participation in workshop, contributions to review paper
Impact Manuscript in preparation
Start Year 2023
 
Description BEIS SSC meeting presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact We engaged with the BEIS LULUCF SSC team and were invited to present a paper and give a talk to outline the role of inland waters in GHG inventory reporting and the role of GHG Aqua in provisioning bottom-up data for flooded lands reporting.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description GHG Aqua Project partner information newsletter August 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The GHG Aqua team put together a second newsletter to provide a partner update and to request that stakeholders get in touch about sites of interest to take forward as part of the GHG Aqua platform. We also detailed our deployments to date.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua Project partner information newsletter July 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The GHG Aqua team put together a newsletter to provide a partner update and to request that stakeholders get in touch about sites of interest to take forward as part of the GHG Aqua platform. Following the newsletter, we communicated with Severn Trent Water and have put together an outline proposal for them, which they are seeking internal funds to support.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description GHG Aqua presentation at Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Discussion with international researchers also working in the field of freshwater GHG emissions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description GHG Aqua presentation to Broads Authority 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The GHG Aqua team presented the project to the catchment team at the Broads Authority and summarised the findings of the UKCEH led sampling campaign that took place in July 2021, presenting a first order estimate of aquatic emissions from water bodies across the Broads.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description GHG Aqua presentation to UK Water Partnership 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Highlighted importance of upstream and downstream emissions assessments to the UKWP audience, with a focus on the measurement opportunity presented by GHG Aqua to help inform reporting for flooded lands. GHGs are now one of the UKWP's themes for 2023 and Co-I Amy Pickard is engaging on behalf of GHG Aqua.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022