The role of benthic fluxes of dissolved organic carbon in oceanic and sedimentary carbon cycling
- Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States)
Benthic fluxes (sediment-water exchange) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) represent a poorly quantified component of sedimentary and oceanic carbon cycling. In this paper the authors use pore water DOC data and direct DOC benthic flux measurements to begin to quantitatively examine this problem. These results; suggest that marine sediments represent a significant source of DOC to the oceans, as a lower limit of the globally-integrated benthic DOC flux is comparable in magnitude to riverine inputs of organic carbon to the oceans. Benthic fluxes of DOC also appear to be similar in magnitude to other sedimentary processes such as organic carbon oxidation (remineralization) in surface sediments and organic carbon burial with depth. 31 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5147940
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 19:18; ISSN 0094-8276
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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