Spatial and temporal variations of dissolved CO2, CH4 and N2O in Lakes Edward and George (East Africa)

We report dissolved CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations in two large East African lakes, Edward (surface area 2,325 km2, average depth of 37 m) George 273 2 m). Lake showed modest seasonal spatial variations, lower partial pressure CO2 (pCO2) (26 ± 16 ppm, mean standard deviation), (234 208 nmol/L) saturation levels (%N2O) (80 9 %) than (404 145 357 483 nmol/L, 139 222 %). Surface waters both lakes were over-saturated CH4, was under-saturated while slightly CO2. This difference related to higher phytoplankton biomass Edward, with chlorophyll-a 177 125 18 25 µg/L, respectively. Permanent high cyanobacterial led uniform concentrations. In surface variations pCO2, bottom depth, locally (in particular Katwe Bay) also the inputs water from via Kazinga Channel, a 40-km natural channel connecting lakes. Short-term mixing events storms increased content waters, for N2O. indicates that response can create ‘hot moments’ emissions atmosphere tropical given weaker vertical density gradients compared latitude systems.