Abstract
The subtropical wetlands of the Doon Valley function as significant net sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs), with methane (CH₄) dominating the radiative forcing (∼62% of CO₂-equivalent emissions) despite lower molar fluxes than carbon dioxide (CO₂). High-resolution field measurements reveal that CH₄ emissions are primarily controlled by anaerobic conditions, sustained soil moisture, elevated temperatures, and low dissolved oxygen, whereas CO₂ fluxes exhibit greater temporal variability and respond strongly to thermal regimes and ionic strength. A key biogeoclimatic insight is the seasonal decoupling of soil moisture and atmospheric water vapor (H2O), where summer drying coincides with peak humidity driven by energy-limited evapotranspiration. Pronounced spatial heterogeneity in gas fluxes further suggests that land-use context and modified hydrological pathways may interact with climatic drivers to influence wetland carbon dynamics. The wetland complex (221.39 ha) emits approximately 0.0195 Mt CO₂-eq annually, underscoring its disproportionate role in regional GHG budgets. These findings reveal strong coupling among hydrological saturation, thermal regimes, redox conditions, and atmospheric moisture in regulating GHG emissions. The study underscores the high climate sensitivity of monsoon-dependent wetlands and highlights the need for targeted hydrological restoration and continuous monitoring to mitigate future amplification of emissions under warming scenarios.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) in Dehradun for providing the necessary facilities and support to conduct this study under the CAP Himalaya project. This work is part of the Ph.D. thesis of Ms. Ayushi Baiswar. Additionally, the authors thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for the funding that made this research possible. Thanks, are also extended to Mr. Deepak Kumar, Technical Assistant, for his assistance with laboratory work and analysis.
Funding
This research was conducted as part of the institute project work under the CAP Himalaya project. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India provided all necessary research facilities, and no grant funding was received.
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Baiswar, A., Tiwari, S.K. & Kaur, S. Greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater wetlands of the Doon Valley, Northwest Himalaya, India.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-50605-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-50605-z
Keywords
- Subtropical ecosystems
- Soil physicochemical parameters
- Global warming potential
- Methanogenesis
- Methane dynamics
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