Boreal lakes play a significant role in global carbon cycling. Small and shallow lakes are abundant in northern areas, and they are often biologically active because of the loading of organic matter from the catchments. As microbes degrade organic matter that has been accumulated in the water column and in the bottom sediments, the water column carbon dioxide concentration exceeds the saturation level in many lakes, and some of the carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere.
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Source: Phys.org