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The Role of Benthic Fluxes of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Oceanic and Sedimentary Carbon Cycling
Author(s) -
Burdige David J.,
Alperin Marc J.,
Homstead Juliana,
Martens Christopher S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/92gl02159
Subject(s) - benthic zone , dissolved organic carbon , total organic carbon , carbon cycle , sediment , sedimentary rock , environmental science , carbon fibers , oceanography , remineralisation , sedimentary organic matter , flux (metallurgy) , cycling , sediment–water interface , biogeochemical cycle , organic matter , geology , environmental chemistry , geochemistry , chemistry , ecosystem , ecology , geomorphology , materials science , history , fluoride , archaeology , composite number , composite material , biology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
Benthic fluxes (sediment‐water exchange) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) represent a poorly quantified component of sedimentary and oceanic carbon cycling. In this paper we 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.