Organic Carbon Burial Rates Research Articles

Carbon and sulfur cycling during the mid-Ludfordian anomaly and the linkage with the late Silurian Lau/Kozlowskii Bioevent

The Ludfordian (late Silurian) records one of the largest perturbations in the Phanerozoic marine carbon cycling, the mid-Ludfordian positive δ13Ccarb excursion (MLCIEcarb), which occurred in the aftermath of the Lau/Kozlowskii Bioevent (LKB). There are still controversies regarding origin of the MLCIE and its possible causal link(s) with respect to the preceding LKB. Surprisingly, the isotope fractionation of carbon between inorganic and organic carbon pools during the MLCIE was not investigated in detail. To constrain better this parameter of marine C cycle, its linkage to the LKB, and local sulfur cycle, we analysed high-resolution δ13Ccarb, δ13Corg, and δ34Spy records in the Prague Basin (peri-Gondwana) representing one of the most complete records of the MLCIEcarb in the world. Evaluation of these high-resolution δ13Corg and δ13Ccarb records reveals their tight coupling, which in turn indicates the photosynthetic origin of the MLCIEorg via links to primary production and changing rates of organic carbon burial. On the other hand, our data also reveal a short-term decoupling of the δ13Corg and δ13Ccarb records preceding the MLCIE which may have been related to a purported increase in atmospheric pCO2 levels or anoxic event. The peak of the Δ13C anomaly exactly coincides with the LKB and, therefore, for the first time suggests a tight link between the change in marine carbon cycling and the bioevent. Subsequent rapid drop of the Δ13C values (and by inference also atmospheric pCO2) fits well with a rapid cooling and globally documented regression reported for this time interval. Finally, the documented strong coupling of δ13Ccarb and δ34Spy records during the MLCIE points to an intensive microbial sulfate reduction which should increase carbonate alkalinity input, thus contributing to formation of authigenic carbonates and an increase in δ13C values of DIC (and anticipated seawater carbonate saturation). The coupling of δ13Corg and δ34Spy values suggests a global enhancement of organic carbon and pyrite burial likely driven by an expansion of euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic water column) conditions in the oceans. Present study of C and S isotope variations during the MLCIE reveals for the first time a tight link among carbon and sulfur cycling, global cooling, and reorganization of faunal communities and fits well with purported seawater carbonate hypersaturation at the onset and during MLCIE.

Assessing methane cycling in the seep sediments of the mid-Okinawa Trough: Insights from pore-water geochemistry and numerical modeling

The methane-enriched fluids in cold seeps are likely to crystallize as gas hydrates and serve as crucial sources of carbon to seawater. In this research, we analyzed the pore-water composition in terms of CH4, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), Cl−, Br−, SO42−, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and NH4+, and the δ13CDIC, δ13CCH4, and δDCH4 values of two gravity cores and six remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video-guided push cores retrieved from fault scarps and dome-like structures (DSs) on the western slope of the mid-Okinawa Trough. In addition, a reaction–transport model was applied to quantify the methane fluxes and related biogeochemical processes. Active seepage of biogenic (δ13CCH4 ~ –70‰ V-PDB) and thermogenic (δ13CCH4 = −40‰ to −56‰ V-PDB) methane was identified on fault scarps and dome structures, respectively. Methane seepage was controlled by the transport and dissolution of the ascending gas rather than by clay dehydration or gas hydrate dissociation-induced fluid advection. The high methane concentrations and shallow sulfate–methane transition zones (SMTZs; between 0.1 and 0.4 mbsf) at sites R3-C2, R4-C4, and R6-C1 suggest strong methane seepage at three of the four studied DS (the highest gas dissolution rates are 6450, 1475, and 515 mmol m−2yr−1). Site GC08, located along a fault scarp, exhibits a moderate methane seepage; the SMTZ is located at ~2.5mbsf, and the rate of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is 130 mmol m−2yr−1. The methane migrating from depth is mainly consumed by AOM. However, ~12%–66% of the methane released from the two most intensive seep sites escapes to the water column. The precipitation of high–Mg calcite (at all sites) and aragonite (only at site R3-C2) has fixed 27%–50% (average = 39%) of the DIC. Therefore, the carbon outputs to the water column have been reduced. In the study area, the area-weighted seafloor CH4 and DIC fluxes are ~30 and 20 mmol m−2yr−1, respectively. Together, they correspond to ~7%–14% of the organic carbon burial rate, indicating that sediments could not be simply regarded as a stable carbon sink because they provide methane and a certain amount of DIC to the water column. Our findings contribute to the results of the ongoing efforts in understanding carbon cycling in submarine cold seep systems.

Sediment carbon storage increases in tropical, oligotrophic, high mountain lakes

• El Sol and La Luna are valuable sentinels of global change by displaying detectable signs of anthropic disturbances from 1950 onwards. • The higher mass accumulation rates and organic carbon burial rates from 1950 onwards are result of human activities and atmospheric dust deposition. • Sharing the same climatic conditions, climate change unlikely caused the recent higher organic carbon burial observed in both lakes. High mountain lakes are valuable sentinels of global change because they are sensitive to environmental stress and integrate changes in the atmosphere and their catchment areas. This study tested the hypothesis that local and regional anthropogenic stressors have affected productivity, sedimentation, and organic carbon burial in two tropical high mountain lakes in central Mexico. We studied changes in the water column (Secchi disc depth, total suspended solids (TSS), and chlorophyll- a concentrations) and surface sediments (chlorophyll- a and organic carbon concentrations) in El Sol Lake and La Luna Lake during the period 2000–2018, and organic carbon burial rates in sediment cores (∼1884–2014) dated with lead-210 ( 210 Pb). We observed increasing water turbidity, TSS, and organic carbon in surface sediments in El Sol Lake. Different responses of the two lakes were caused by lower pH in La Luna Lake and a threefold residence time of TSS in El Sol Lake compared to La Luna Lake, mostly attributable to their different surface/volume ratios. Organic carbon burial rates were slightly higher at La Luna Lake until 2000, when they became higher at El Sol Lake due to increasing sediment accumulation and organic carbon concentrations. In both lakes, results show significantly higher organic carbon burial rates since the 1950s, likely resulting from the deposition of human-induced wind-blown particles derived from activities at the volcano slopes and long-distance transport from highly urbanized areas. Anthropogenic impacts rather than climate change, therefore, caused the recent higher organic carbon burial rates observed in both lakes. Methods and findings from this study provide a valuable basis for comparing changes in other high mountain lakes worldwide.

Integrated bio-chemostratigraphy of Lower and Middle Triassic marine successions at Spiti in the Indian Himalaya: Implications for the Early Triassic nutrient crisis

In this paper we study the Lilang Super Group in the Spiti area, Indian Himalaya to understand environmental changes in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction. We focus on the Mikin and Kaga Formations, which span the Induan to Ladinian stages of the Lower and Middle Triassic. These strata formed on the southern mid-palaeolatitude margin of East Gondwana and are interpreted as condensed, mixed carbonate – siliciclastic ramp deposits that deepened distally. Carbon isotope ratios of carbonate (δ13Ccarb) show an increase from −2.6 to 0‰ from the Griesbachian substage to the Dienerian-Smithian transition, followed by a negative shift to −3‰ in the Smithian substage and a large positive excursion from −3.0 to 3.5‰ across the Smithian-Spathian boundary. A short negative shift to −1.0‰ occurred in the early Spathian substage, and is followed by a positive trend from ~−1.0 to 1.0‰ in the Middle Triassic, with several minor excursions occurring during the Aegean substage. Carbon isotope ratios of total organic carbon (δ13Corg) co-vary with δ13Ccarb, suggesting that both proxies represent the original isotopic signatures. Sedimentary and palaeontological evidence, as well as trace metal geochemistry (Mo/Al ratio), indicate anoxic conditions developed from the late Griesbachian to the Dienerian substages, and dysoxic to probably fully oxic conditions from the late Dienerian substage onward. Anoxic conditions only very briefly reoccurred in the late Smithian substage. Ti/Ca and Zr/Al ratios suggest a consistently high terrestrial input in the first three substages of the Early Triassic, followed by a decrease across the Smithian–Spathian boundary. Thus, in the Spiti area, the positive δ13Ccarb excursion across the Smithian–Spathian boundary is recorded in generally well‑oxygenated sediments and coincides with a decrease in terrestrial input. While evidence for enhanced weathering is lacking, observations are strongly at odds with studies postulating eutrophication as a universal kill mechanism for the Smithian–Spathian crisis. The strata in the Spiti area contain an Early Triassic gap in phosphorite deposition indicating a ~ 5 Myr waning of coastal upwelling in an otherwise persistent (>100 Myr) upwelling zone of the East Gondwana margin. The phosphorite gap suggests low P availability, low rates of organic matter degradation, and a reduction in nutrient exchange between deep and surface water masses. Altogether, the phosphorite gap, the paucity of sessile and filtering fauna in oxygenated waters, and low organic carbon burial rates indicate a collapse in marine productivity in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction.

Carbon source characterisation and historical carbon burial in three mangrove ecosystems on the South West coast of India

Tropical mangrove environments have high carbon sequestration potential and this ecosystem service is currently used in mitigating climate change. However, these environments are declining rapidly in developing countries, diminishing their carbon sequestration potential and may ultimately transforming them as carbon dioxide sources. This study investigated the carbon sequestration potential through sediment burial at three mangrove habitats of Cochin, South-West coast of India. High burial estimates were recorded at two mangrove stations (2.95 ± 0.79–10.41 ± 2.50 t C ha−1 yr−1), but consistent with other tropical mangrove areas. Lower burial rates were estimated at one station (0.57 ± 0.24 t C ha−1 yr−1). Eighty percent of the mangrove net primary productivity through litterfall (NPPL) was stored in the sediment at the station with the highest burial rate, which is demonstrative of a robust carbon sink. However, at a different site, which is subject to aquaculture, only 7.23 % of NPPL was buried in the sediment. A major portion of the fixed carbon at this site is presumably emitted back to the atmosphere or exported to adjacent water bodies. The median total regional mangrove carbon burial rate in this study was 2.95 t C ha−1 yr−1 and the organic carbon burial rate was 1.93 ± 0.75 t C ha−1 yr−1. Biological factors such as mangrove biomass, litterfall and crab density have played a major role in controlling the sediment carbon burial rate. Sediment texture and bulk sediment accumulation acted as secondary controlling factors. The carbon source characterisation in the sediment profile using stable isotope techniques revealed the organic carbon origin as mangrove litter. Gaining a better understanding of carbon sources, burial rates and their controlling factors in mangrove habitats aids in regional climate mitigation efforts and global efforts to increase the carbon sequestration potential of tropical mangrove systems.

Stocks and losses of soil organic carbon from Chinese vegetated coastal habitats.

Global vegetated coastal habitats (VCHs) represent a large sink for organic carbon (OC) stored within their soils. The regional patterns and causes of spatial variation, however, remain uncertain. The sparsity and regional bias of studies on soil OC stocks from Chinese VCHs have limited the reliable estimation of their capacity as regional and global OC sinks. Here, we use field and published data from 262 sampled soil cores and 181 surface soils to report estimates of soil OC stocks, burial rates and losses of VCHs in China. We find that Chinese mangrove, salt marsh and seagrass habitats have relatively low OC stocks, storing 6.3±0.6, 7.5±0.6, and 1.6±0.6Tg C (±95% confidence interval) in the top meter of the soil profile with burial rates of 44±17, 159±57, and 6±45Gg C/year, respectively. The variability in the soil OC stocks is linked to biogeographic factors but is mostly impacted by sedimentary processes and anthropic activities. All habitats have experienced significant losses, resulting in estimated emissions of 94.2-395.4Tg CO2 e (carbon dioxide equivalent) over the past 70years. Reversing this trend through conservation and restoration measures has, therefore, great potential in contributing to the mitigation of climate change while providing additional benefits. This assessment, on a national scale from highly sedimentary environments under intensive anthropogenic pressures, provides important insights into blue carbon sink mechanism and sequestration capacities, thus contributing to the synchronous progression of global blue carbon management.

Carbon and nutrient accumulation in tropical mangrove creeks, Amazon region

The Marapanim River estuary (MRE) is part of the Amazon estuarine system located in northern Brazil, which is characterized as having extensive mangrove forests. Given that previous studies reported CO2 and CH4 fluxes from mangrove creeks in this region, here we investigate the potential organic carbon sequestration of the creek mudflats to get a better understanding of the carbon cycling through these systems. Sediment accumulation rates derived from 210Pb dating indicated that sampled cores represent the previous 24 (± 4) yr. The approximately 24-year total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) burial rates were estimated to be 192.5 (± 43.5), 15.3 (± 4.1) and 3.2 (± 0.8) g m−2 yr−1, respectively. A binary source mixing model based on carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) revealed that the sedimentary organic matter (OM) is mainly influenced by marine phytoplankton input (49% to 95%). Furthermore, the TOC accumulation rates found here were slightly higher than the global averages estimated for within mangrove forests, suggesting that these unaccounted carbon sinks along creek mudflat environments are relevant for carbon budgets in mangrove-colonized coastal zones. The highest contents, stocks and accumulation rates were found in the tidal creek sediments that are most influenced by nearby mangroves and are more protected than sediments from major river margins. Our results indicate that the creek mudflats play a major role in carbon and nutrients sequestration, directly related to grain size and OM sources.

Disturbance mechanisms of lacustrine organic carbon burial: Case study of Cuopu Lake, Southwest China

Lakes are important organic carbon (OC) traps in the global carbon cycle. Recent studies have shown that the rate of OC burial in lacustrine sediments is influenced by factors such as climate change, land-use change, and eutrophication. In this study, we use multiproxy methods to reveal the mechanisms of lacustrine sediment OC burial in an alpine lake (Cuopu Lake), in southwest China. Combined with the dating from 210Pbex and n-alkanes distribution analysis using the Positive Matrix Factorization model, the sedimentary history was divided into five stages: religious activity (the 1840s–1880s), earthquake (the 1880s–1910s), garrison (the 1910s–1960s), transition (the 1960s–1990s), and ecotourism (the 1990s–2010s). During the earthquake stage, OC burial was dominated by terrestrial solids (>40%) and co-precipitated algae (>30%), with a rapid deposition rate (>4 mm a−1) and low OC concentration (<4 mg g−1). During the other stages, when the level of disturbance was relatively low, a change in nutrient conditions either promoted or inhibited plant growth, which influenced the type of buried OC. The contribution of OC derived from combustion sources varied from stage to stage. Severe anthropogenic disturbances have led to a significant increase in nutritional levels in the lake water, leading to an increase in the OC burial rate. Climate change, which leads to changes in temperature and rainfall, did not significantly influence OC burial, whereas nitrogen deposition (and associated ecological changes) was a significant determinant. When the general mechanism is dominant, the total nitrogen to inorganic phosphorus ratio is an effective indicator of OC burial due to its selective promotion of different plant types. In conclusion, our results suggest that lacustrine sediment OC burial is closely linked to physical and anthropogenic factors in Cuopu Lake, as well as similar montane lakes.

Temporal trends of organic carbon accumulation in seagrass meadows from the northern Mexican Caribbean

Carbon sequestration in seagrass meadows mitigates the currently rising CO2 atmospheric levels, as these ecosystems are highly productive and preserve sediment organic carbon over long periods. Five 210Pb dated sediment cores, collected from seagrass meadows dominated by Thalassia testudinum in the northern Mexican Caribbean touristic corridor Cancun-Riviera Maya, were used to establish temporal trends of organic carbon (Corg) content, burial rates and stock variation over the past 100 years. Corg contents (0.17–1.94%) and burial rates (2.0–252 g m−2 yr−1) were generally within the lower end range reported for seagrass meadow sediments worldwide. Corg stock gradually increased over the past decades, associated with increasing sediment accumulation, possibly caused by inland erosion promoted by agricultural and forestry activities and, in the recent decades, by a rapid increase of urban development due to a fast growth of the tourist industry and population, likely causing fertilization of coastal waters. Seagrass meadow sediments in the northern Mexican Caribbean coastline showed long-term Corg storage and preservation, since ~ 40 to ~ 100 years depending on the core, which emphasizes the need to protect these ecosystems against impacts of global change, and their incorporation into climate change mitigation strategies should be considered.

Temporal records of organic carbon stocks and burial rates in Mexican blue carbon coastal ecosystems throughout the Anthropocene

Blue carbon (BC) ecosystems provide important and multiple ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation through carbon storage. However, these ecosystems are under the pressure of numerous anthropogenic stressors, such as population growth and industrialization, which jeopardize the benefits they provide. Although the common methodology is based on the use of a linear depth scale, this work highlights the need of sediment dating to evaluate temporal variation of organic carbon (Corg) stocks and burial rates, since sedimentation patterns can be variable even between sites within a single ecosystem. Temporal records of Corg stocks and burial rates during the past 100 years were determined in mangrove, seagrass and salt marsh ecosystems, from five representative areas of the Mexican marine coastal systems, by using 210Pb-dated sediment cores. Carbon stocks during the past 100 years (Corg stock(100 years)) ranged from 67 to 269 Mg Corg ha−1 in mangroves, 8–53 Mg Corg ha−1 in seagrasses and 32–56 Mg Corg ha−1 in salt marshes, and burial rates were 8–426 g m−2 yr−1, 2–252 g m−2 yr−1 and 1–60 g m−2 yr−1, respectively. Most of the stored Corg (60–86%) accumulated during the Anthropocene (since 1950), and in mangrove cores recent Corg stocks were up to six times higher than before the Anthropocene onset (1900–1950), most likely as a result of land use changes. Increased Corg burial rates in seagrass ecosystems were mostly driven by mass accumulation rate changes (promoted by catchment erosion and sea level rise), and in mangroves and salt marshes by changes in Corg content, likely promoted by an increase in productivity associated with nutrient enrichment by fertilizer runoff and sewage disposal. Despite the multiple anthropogenic stressors that positively affected Corg stocks and burial rates in BC ecosystems, worldwide destruction of these valuable habitats will cause losses of long-term buried Corg through significant CO2 releases, thus conservation and/or restoration are effective actions for climate change mitigation.

Increasing salinization and organic carbon burial rates in seagrass meadows from an anthropogenically-modified coastal lagoon in southern Gulf of Mexico

Intertidal ecosystems, such as marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses, contribute to the global carbon storage, helping to regulate atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Organic carbon (Corg) data from seagrass meadows in the Mexican coastline are still scarce, preventing appropriate evaluations of its contribution to mitigate global climate change. Recent temporal changes (≤100 years) of Corg concentrations and burial rates were assessed in 210Pb dated cores from seagrass meadows at Terminos Lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Irrespective of the predominant seagrass species, the cores showed comparable Corg concentrations (0.04–3.9%) and burial rates (2.5 – 66.7 g m−2 yr−1). Increasing salinization, likely caused by sea level rise, favoured Corg concentrations and burial rates in sediments with Halodule wrightii, while in sediments with Thalassia testudinum only Corg burial rates increased, owing to increasing mass accumulation rates, likely promoted by erosion induced by land use changes, and sea level rise. The mean Corg stock (1 m depth; 130 ± 29 Mg ha−1) was comparable with the global average Corg stock for seagrasses in other tropical areas around the world. Our results suggested that, under the current scenario of land use change and marine transgression, the seagrass meadows in Terminos Lagoon preserve the capacity for Corg accumulation and long-term preservation. However, both factors are also known to reduce seagrass resilience caused by water quality deterioration, thus these ecosystems must be monitored and protected from global change impacts, as part of climate change mitigation efforts.

Seawater carbon and strontium isotope variations through the late Ediacaran to late Cambrian in the Tarim Basin

The radiation of early animals during the Cambrian explosion was accompanied by widespread perturbations in oceanic and atmospheric conditions. However, the cause-effect relationships between evolutionary innovations, carbon (C) cycling, and continental weathering are still a matter of debate. Further paleoenvironmental reconstructions of poorly studied paleo-continents covering the Precambrian/Cambrian (PC/C) transition may improve the correlation of the events and their impact on the Earth system on a global scale. The Tarim Basin was presumably located proximal to the well-studied South China craton during the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary and is expected to contribute equally to our paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Here we apply carbon and strontium (Sr) isotope records (δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr) obtained from well-preserved marine carbonates spanning the late Ediacaran to the late Cambrian from the Keping region in the northwestern Tarim Basin, NW China. By comparison to other carbonate successions from various paleo-continents, our obtained seawater 87Sr/86Sr curve in this study shows a stepwise first-order increase to more radiogenic values superimposed by second-order presumably regional variations. Our obtained δ13C variations exhibit four prominent negative and three positive excursions identical to the global δ13C record. Based on existing paleontological evidence and our new Tarim δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr curves, we propose a stratigraphic correlation from the late Ediacaran to the late Cambrian between the Tarim Basin and other paleo-continents. Besides, our paleoenvironmental reconstruction reveals both regional and global sea-level changes that may have controlled the influx of radiogenic Sr and presumably the influx of nutrients controlling primary production and the rate of organic carbon burial in the Tarim Basin at the time of deposition. These feedbacks may have ultimately influenced the rapid diversification of metazoans and the oxygenation of the Cambrian ocean and atmosphere approaching-present pO2 levels.

High organic carbon burial but high potential for methane ebullition in the sediments of an Amazonian hydroelectric reservoir

Abstract. Reservoir sediments sequester significant amounts of organic carbon (OC), but at the same time, high amounts of methane (CH4) can be produced and emitted during the degradation of sediment OC. While the greenhouse gas emission of reservoirs has received a lot of attention, there is a lack of studies focusing on OC burial. In particular, there are no studies on reservoir OC burial in the Amazon, even though hydropower is expanding in the basin. Here we present results from the first investigation of OC burial and CH4 concentrations in the sediments of an Amazonian hydroelectric reservoir. We performed sub-bottom profiling, sediment coring and sediment pore water analysis in the Curuá Una (CUN) reservoir (Amazon, Brazil) during rising- and falling-water periods. The spatially resolved average sediment accumulation rate was 0.6 cm yr−1, and the average OC burial rate was 91 g C m−2 yr−1. This is the highest OC burial rate on record for low-latitude hydroelectric reservoirs. Such a high rate probably results from a high OC deposition onto the sediment, which compensates the high OC mineralization at a 28–30 ∘C water temperature. Elevated OC burial was found near the dam and close to major river inflow areas. C:N ratios between 10.3 and 17 (average ± SD: 12.9±2.1) suggest that both land-derived and aquatic OC accumulate in CUN sediments. About 23 % of the sediment pore water samples had dissolved CH4 above the saturation concentration. This represents a higher share than in other hydroelectric reservoirs, indicating a high potential for CH4 ebullition, particularly in river inflow areas.

Tidal elevation is the key factor modulating burial rates and composition of organic matter in a coastal wetland with multiple habitats

This study examines long-term burial rates of organic carbon (OC), organic nitrogen (ON), and total sulphur (TS) in a tidal-dominated coastal wetland with a high spatial heterogeneity and habitat diversity, and long history of human impacts, Cádiz Bay (SW Spain). Using replicate sediment cores, we quantified fluxes of these elements over a transect, extending from the lower saltmarsh (Spartina maritima, ~0.3 m mean sea level, MSL) to the lower intertidal region (Zostera noltei, ~ − 0.7 m MSL). Potential organic matter (OM) sources to the sediment were examined using an extensive dataset on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, and C:N molar ratios of primary producers in the region. OC burial rates decreased from the sites below MSL (~80 gC·m−2·y−1) to the lower saltmarsh (~50 gC·m−2·y−1), whereas ON burial rates showed an opposite pattern (~3 gN·m−2·y−1 and ~4 gN·m−2·y−1 observed below and above MSL, respectively). TS burial rates (0.5–46 gS·m−2·y−1) did not show any trend along the sea-land gradient. Hence, (tidal) elevation appeared to be an important determinant of sediment biogeochemical properties, and predictor of OM burial rates. The Bayesian mixing model suggested a well-mixed combination of subtidal and terrestrial/high-marsh OM sources to the surface sediments, with no clear indication of an increased contribution from the particular vegetation species inhabiting the sediments. The indication that there is substantial transport, remineralization and cycling of OM between habitats, suggests diversity may play an important role in maintaining this function, reinforcing the idea that a holistic, catchment-scale view is appropriate for understanding and preserving the long-term burial of OM in coastal wetlands.

Increasing Rates of Carbon Burial in Southwest Florida Coastal Wetlands

AbstractRates of organic carbon (OC) burial in some coastal wetlands appear to be greater in recent years than they were in the past. Possible explanations include ongoing mineralization of older OC or the influence of an unaccounted‐for artifact of the methods used to measure burial rates. Alternatively, the trend may represent real acceleration in OC burial. We quantified OC burial rates of mangrove and coastal freshwater marshes in southwest Florida through a comparison of rates derived from 210Pb, 137Cs, and surface marker horizons. Age/depth profiles of lignin: OC were used to assess whether down‐core remineralization had depleted the OC pool relative to lignin, and lignin phenols were used to quantify the variability of lignin degradation. Over the past 120 years, OC burial rates at seven sites increased by factors ranging from 1.4 to 6.2. We propose that these increases represent net acceleration. Change in relative sea‐level rise is the most likely large‐scale driver of acceleration, and sediment deposition from large storms can contribute to periodic increases. Mangrove sites had higher OC and lignin burial rates than marsh sites, indicating inherent differences in OC burial factors between the two habitat types. The higher OC burial rates in mangrove soils mean that their encroachment into coastal freshwater marshes has the potential to increase burial rates in those locations even more than might be expected from the acceleration trends. Regionally, these findings suggest that burial represents a substantially growing proportion of the coastal wetland carbon budget.

Enhanced Organic Carbon Burial in Sediments of Oxygen Minimum Zones Upon Ocean Deoxygenation

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in the ocean are expanding. This expansion is attributed to global warming and may continue over the next 10 to 100 kyrs due to multiple climate CO$_\text{2}$-driven factors. The expansion of oxygen-deficient waters has the potential to enhance organic carbon burial in marine sediments, thereby providing a negative feedback on global warming. Here, we study the response of dissolved oxygen in the ocean to increased phosphorus and iron inputs due to CO$_\text{2}$-driven enhanced weathering and increased dust emissions, respectively. We use an ocean biogeochemical model coupled to a general ocean circulation model (the Hamburg Oceanic Carbon Cycle model, HAMOCC 2.0) to assess the impact of such regional deoxygenation on organic carbon burial in the modern ocean on time scales of up to 200~kyrs. We find that an increase in input of phosphorus and iron leads to an expansion of the area of the OMZ impinging on continental margin sediments and a significant decline in bottom water oxygen in the open ocean relative to pre-industrial conditions. The associated increase in organic carbon burial could contribute to the drawdown of $\sim$1600~Gt of carbon, which is equivalent to the total amount of CO$_\text{2}$ in the atmosphere predicted for the year 2100 in a business as usual scenario, on time scales of up to 50 kyrs. The corresponding areal extent of sediments overlain by bottom waters with little or no oxygen as estimated by the model is not very different from the minimum area estimated for two major oceanic anoxic events in Earth's past. Such events were associated with major perturbations of the oceanic carbon cycle, including high rates of organic carbon burial. We conclude that organic carbon burial in low oxygen areas in the ocean could contribute to removal of anthropogenic CO$_\text{2}$ from the atmosphere on long time scales.

Uranium reduction and isotopic fractionation in reducing sediments: Insights from reactive transport modeling

Uranium concentrations and isotopic ratios (238U/235U, denoted as δ238U) have been used to provide quantitative information about the degree of oxygenation and de-oxygenation of past oceans. The potential to constrain changes in global redox conditions, in contrast to many other proxies that reflect local conditions, is a particular strength of the uranium isotope approach. Because uranium reduction primarily occurs in sediments underlying anoxic water columns rather than in the anoxic water column itself, the removal of uranium in organic-rich shales is the largest lever on seawater δ238U. Accordingly, accumulation and isotopic fractionation are modulated by local variations in productivity, basin connectivity, sedimentation rate, and bottom-water redox conditions. To isolate the processes at the sediment-water interface that control δ238U and uranium accumulation in reducing sediments, we constructed a reactive transport model that couples biogeochemical reactions to diffusive transport and the burial of solutes and minerals.Using the model framework, we test the sensitivity of authigenic uranium isotopic fractionation and accumulation to oxygenation, permeability, sedimentation rate, organic carbon delivery, and basin restriction. Our results demonstrate that these external forcings produce diagnostic patterns in isotopic fractionation. Specifically, the model predicts that authigenic δ238U is sensitive to productivity because of the associated organic carbon burial rate. Moreover, our results suggest that the isotopic offset does not vary significantly due to changing bottom-water O2 concentrations, but the amount of accumulation does—a result that differs from previous estimates. Water column uranium reduction adds additional complexity to the ultimate δ238U value. The predictive patterns derived from model results can offer insight into local depositional conditions, such as sedimentation patterns. Collectively, these effects—including bottom-water redox conditions and related reducing sediments—alter the isotopic signature of the overlying water column according to the authigenic δ238U value and the diffusive fluxes arising from porewater concentration gradients. More broadly, this work provides important new constraints on the major controls on the δ238U of sediments while also supporting its use as a proxy for global marine redox conditions.

Spatiotemporal patterns of carbon sequestration in a large shallow lake, Chaohu Lake: Evidence from multiple-core records

Lake sediment can sequestrate large amounts of carbon and this issue has become a research hotspot. However, most of research on carbon burial in lakes is based on a single (or a few) sediment core records and so may underestimate the variability of carbon burial features within a single lake. In this study, therefore, Chaohu Lake, a typical large shallow lake in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, was selected to conduct multiple, high resolution sediment core studies to elucidate that variability. Overall 18 sediment cores are analyzed according to paleolimnological proxies (including 210Pb/137Cs for 3 master cores); sediment accumulation rate, total organic carbon, grain size and loss of ignition is measured or estimated for most cores. The spatiotemporal variations of organic carbon burial rate (OCBR), carbon storage and their driving factors were examined. Results show: 1) There was a clear temporal difference in carbon burial during the past 150 years, with OCBR varying from 1.1 g C/m2/y to 25.6 g C/m2/y (mean 9.8 g C/m2/y). OCBR began to increase after around 1900, a rapid increase followed after 1950s and a downward trend after 1970s. Total carbon burial amount (OCBA) in the lake since the 1850s is 1.11 x 1010 g. 2) The average OCBR of six sediment cores in the northwest lake area is 13.4 g C/m2/y, significantly higher than that for sediment cores in other areas (9.6 g C/m2/y). 3) TOC, OCBR, OCBA in all 18 cores exhibited similar temporal patterns (i.e. marked increase since 1950s in most of the cores) but with significant differences in several lake locations. 4) During the last 150 years, carbon burial in Chaohu Lake appears to be greatly affected by changes in regional temperature and population size, according to their significant correlations. OCBR also has a significant correlation with the average lake level in the past 50 years, indicating human activity (notably dam building). This has imposed an important impact on OCBR in Chaohu Lake. This multi-sediment core study reveals the spatiotemporal characteristics of carbon burial in the lake and provides an important basis for increasing the accuracy of calculating carbon storage in large shallow lakes.

Carbon Budget for a Large Drowned River Valley Estuary Adjacent to an Emerging Megacity (Sydney Harbour)

AbstractAnnual organic and inorganic carbon budgets were constructed for the Sydney Harbour Estuary. Net ecosystem metabolism was the main control on carbon fluxes in the system. Sydney Harbour Estuary was slightly net heterotrophic, which is consistent with a small CO2 emission of 0.8 × 108 mol C yr−1. Terrestrial carbon loads were 70% dissolved inorganic carbon, 21% dissolved organic carbon, and 9% particulate organic carbon. Dissolved inorganic carbon was exported to the ocean (4.19 × 108 mol C yr−1), and an import of organic carbon (1.92 × 108 mol C yr−1) from the ocean was required to balance the budget. Sydney Harbour had high sediment organic carbon burial rates similar to other river valley estuaries including the Hudson River and Chesapeake Bay. Productivity was the main sink of inorganic carbon followed by sediment burial, emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere, and oyster sequestration. This study highlights the importance of determining the sources, sinks, and transformations of all carbon forms in constructing estuarine budgets.

Paleoenvironmental setting, mechanism and consequence of massive organic carbon burial in the Permian Junggar Basin, NW China

The Junggar Basin in northwestern China is a typical “walled” sedimentary basin that has a prolonged basin evolution history from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic and is rich in petroleum resources. Permian strata reach thousands of meters in thickness and have been intensively studied for their record of regional tectonics and paleoenvironments. They have also been exploited for oil and gas for the past several decades. In this paper, we summarize perspectives on tectonic evolution, stratigraphic framework, sedimentary environments, and the paleoclimate of the Permian Junggar Basin and the adjacent Turpan Basin. Further, we discuss the mechanism and consequences of massive organic carbon burial. Based on a compilation of published radiometric dating datasets, an updated chronostratigraphic framework was proposed for the Junggar Basin. This framework constrains the ages of two main petroleum source intervals, the Fengcheng Formation and the Lucaogou and equivalent formations, as Early Permian and Middle Permian, respectively. Although a global warming and drying trend was present throughout the Permian Period, the regional climate over the Junggar Basin was drier in Early Permian and more humid in the Middle-Late Permian with short-term climatic fluctuations. During the deposition of the two petroleum source intervals, dry and temperate climate prevailed and evaporative lacustrine environment dominated. Organic matter enrichment was promoted by stable salinity stratification and limited dilution by inorganic sediments, leading to one of the richest lacustrine source rock deposits in the world. The average organic carbon burial rates were 11.2 gC/m2/yr for the Lucaogou Formation and 3.5 gC/m2/yr for the Fengcheng Formation, lower than the average organic carbon burial rate in modern lakes. However, considering the large areas of global tectonic lakes in the Permian Period, organic carbon burial in lacustrine environments could act as a significant carbon sink and impact the global carbon cycle and climate evolution.