Burial of Organic Carbon in Swedish Fjord Sediments: Highlighting the Importance of Sediment Accumulation Rate in Relation to Fjord Redox Conditions

Abstract

AbstractFjords are net carbon sinks with high organic carbon (OC) burial rates; however, the key drivers of OC burial in these systems are not well constrained. To study the role of water column redox condition and OC composition on OC preservation in fjord sediments, we determined OC accumulation rates (OCAR), OC source, and OC degradation in three Swedish fjords with variable redox conditions (long‐term oxic, seasonally hypoxic, and long‐term anoxic). Average OCARs were variable between and within the fjords studied (2–122 g OC m−2 yr−1), but highest rates were at the mouth for each fjord. Based on a δ13C mixing model, Swedish fjords bury predominantly marine‐derived OC (∼83% of the total OC burial) likely because of relatively gentle slopes, low riverine discharge, and high marine inflow. Using a multi‐biomarker approach (lignin, photosynthetic pigments, and total hydrolyzable amino acids) we found, terrestrially‐ and marine‐derived OC were moderately degraded under the various redox conditions sampled, suggesting water column redox and OC source are not primary drivers of OC burial in these fjords. Rather, high sediment accumulation rates, common to fjords globally, lead to low oxygen exposure times, thus promoting efficient burial of OC regardless of its chemical composition.