Figure 9. Proportion of fate as R (or retention) versus water residence time.

Lines are calculated under the assumption that R₀ represents true ecosystem respiration and that R₀ and export, as calculated from residence time, are the only two fates of DOC. The two groups of black dots correspond to fates from the small lakes and large lakes simulations, when R₀ is set to the three respiration rates used to generate the lines. The colored markers are from studies that have quantified loads and export or respiration, as well as hydrologic residence time in northern latitude lakes. Values from the literature represent retention (retention = mineralization+sedimentation).