Scientists from ETH Zurich have discovered fascinating phenomena in the context of carbon dioxide dynamics in the Congo Basin, focusing their research on the Ruki River, one of the darkest blackwater rivers in the world. This river, with its exceptional darkness caused by high concentrations of dissolved organic material, provides unusual conditions for study.
Travis Drake from ETH Zurich noted that the water in the Ruki is so dark that visibility is almost zero, which makes it stand out from other tropical rivers. The darkness of the water comes from rainwater leaching organic compounds from decaying plant material, giving it its characteristic color.
The Ruki River, which stretches one kilometer wide and flows into the Congo, is surrounded by primary lowland tropical forest and extensive peatlands, which are important carbon sinks. These peatlands contain significant amounts of undecomposed dead plant material, making them crucial to the ecosystem's carbon balance.
Data on water levels in the Ruki River have been available since the 1930s, but the river's chemical composition, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and its sources, remains undetermined. In 2019, Travis Drake's team installed a measuring station near the town of Mbandaka, meticulously recording water flow and water levels, which will provide valuable information on carbon dioxide dynamics in the Ruki river system.
Dr. Johan Six, head of the Sustainable Agroecosystems Group at ETH Zurich, emphasizes that understanding carbon emissions in black rivers such as the Ruki is key to accurately estimating carbon budgets and predicting future climate scenarios. Further research is essential to understand this complex ecosystem and its role in the global carbon balance.
Studying the Ruka River sheds light on its unique features and ecological importance, offering scientists new opportunities to understand the dynamics of carbon dioxide emissions and contributing to the study of global climate systems.
Hydrology drives export and composition of carbon in a pristine tropical river
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