Lake Mai-Ndombe and Lake Tumba

Scientists have found that two major lakes in the Democratic Republic of Congo are releasing carbon that has been locked away for thousands of years in surrounding peatlands—raising concerns about future climate stability.

The findings, published in Nature Geoscience by researchers from ETH Zurich, show that up to 40% of carbon dioxide emissions from Lake Mai-Ndombe and Lake Tumba come from ancient peat deposits rather than recent plant matter.

Why Peatlands Matter for Climate

• Tropical peatlands are major carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon for millennia.
• Peat forms from accumulated dead plant material that does not decompose in waterlogged conditions.
• When peat dries, microbes reactivate, releasing stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

These ecosystems play a crucial role in global climate regulation.

What the Study Found

• Carbon in emissions from the lakes includes peat deposits over 3,000 years old.
• This indicates long-stored carbon is leaking into lake systems and eventually into the atmosphere.
• The exact pathway of carbon movement from peatlands into lakes remains unclear.

Source: DD