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Greenhouse-gas emissions from tropical dams

Emissions from tropical hydropower are often underestimated and can exceed those of fossil fuel for decades.

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Figure 1: Dead trees in Brazil's Samuel Reservoir.

© PHILIP FEARNSIDE

Figure 2: Methane-rich water is drawn from below the thermocline that divides the water column into a surface layer (epilimnion) and an anoxic bottom layer (hypolimnion).

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Correspondence to Philip M. Fearnside.

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Fearnside, P., Pueyo, S. Greenhouse-gas emissions from tropical dams. Nature Clim Change 2, 382–384 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1540

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