Impact of natural (storm) and anthropogenic (trawling) sediment resuspension on particulate organic matter in coastal environments

In order to assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic sediment resuspension on quantity, biochemical composition and bioavailability of particulate organic matter (POM), two field investigations were carried out in two shallow coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Gulf of Lions, we investigated the impact of a storm resuspension of sediment, whereas in the Thermaikos Gulf we investigated the impact of bottom trawling.Resuspension in the Gulf of Lions determined the increase of sedimentation rates, modified the composition of the organic fraction of settling particles and decreased the labile fraction of POM, as indicated by a drop in the enzymatically hydrolysable amino acid fraction. The increase in the refractory fraction, following short-term storm-induced resuspension, increased also the contribution of glycine and decreased the contribution of aspartic acid contents to the total amino acid pools.Trawling activities in Thermaikos Gulf determined a significant increase in suspended POM concentrations and important changes in its biochemical composition. After trawling, the protein to carbohydrate ratio decreased (as a result of a major input of sedimentary carbohydrates at the water–sediment interface) and the fraction of enzymatically hydrolysable biopolymeric C decreased by ≈30%, thus reducing the bioavailability of resuspended organic particles. Results of the present study indicate that changes in suspended POM, induced by storms and trawling activities, can have similar consequences on benthic systems and on food webs. In fact, the potential benefit of increased organic particle concentration for suspension feeders, is depressed by the shift of suspended food particles towards a more refractory composition.     

Riverine inputs of total organic carbon and suspended particulate matter from the Pearl River Delta to the coastal ocean off South China

A total of 1008 samples were collected from the eight major riverine runoff outlets in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) during 2005-2006 to estimate the fluxes of total organic carbon (TOC) to the coastal ocean off South China. The average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 1.67 mg/L with a range of 1.38-2.13 mg/L. Concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC) ranged from 2.66-4.12% of total suspended particulate matter (SPM). The fluxes of TOC and SPM from the PRD via the eight outlets were 9.2 x 10(5) and 2.5 x 10(7)tons/yr, respectively. Temporal variations in POC and DOC were observed at all outlets due to the large variability in runoff levels because of the seasonality of rainfall, and the riverine discharge amount was an important factor controlling TOC flux. The net contribution of organic carbon from the PRD to the coastal ocean represented approximately 0.1-0.2% of total organic carbon transported by rivers worldwide.     

Fluxes and seasonal changes in composition of organic matter in the English Channel

Dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) have been investigated along a transect between Cherbourg and the Isle of Wight. In addition, the relative contribution of different sources of POM have been assessed by the use of lipid biomarkers (e.g. fatty acids). Seawater samples were collected at two depths (subsurface and above the bottom) at five stations located on the transect during five cruises (from September 1994 to July 1995). Particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations vary between 30–530 μg l⁻¹ and 0.5–2.7 mg l⁻¹, respectively, for all the cruises. Fluxes of POM and DOM have been estimated at 0.6×10¹² g yr⁻¹ and 6.5×10¹² g yr⁻¹ of carbon, respectively. General fluxes of water and therefore of DOC and POC are oriented eastward. However, around the Isle of Wight a westward oriented flux exists due to a gyre located in the area. The major DOC and POC fluxes occur in the central part of the Channel where the water column is deepest. Seasonal variations of different sources of POM (algal, bacterial and terrigenous) have been examined for the five cruises. The fresh algal organic fraction is relatively important in September in coastal waters with a predominance of diatom species on the English side, whereas it has a low or undetectable contribution during winter months. The bacterial fraction generally varies in concert with the algal component. It is low during the winter period and more important in bloom or post-bloom conditions, as for example in May. Terrestrial organic matter is restricted to coastal areas in September, and is present at low levels in May and July. Nevertheless, in November and February, terrigenous inputs have been clearly identified for the whole transect even in central waters.     

Spatial and temporal variation in particle size and particulate organic matter content in suspended particulate matter from peatland‐dominated catchments in Finland

Properties of suspended particulate matter play a vital role in transport processes, but information from boreal lowland river systems with high organic loads is limited. This study analysed data from 2 years of sampling at 30 locations in Finland (204 samples in total) using suspended particulate matter samplers to determine effective and absolute particle size and organic fractions. Mean d₅₀ value was 22 and 49 µm for absolute and effective particle size, respectively. The organic fraction content ranged from 2.1% to 36% (mean 9.6%), highlighting the importance of particle organic matter for suspended particulate matter flux in the region. The results indicated that the suspended particulate matter particle size distribution and load in the study region is dominated by composite particles. There were considerable spatial and temporal variations in transport of organic fractions, effective particle size and degree of aggregation (range 1.5–93%). Headwaters and, in particular, late summer and spring flood conditions with flow peaks produced the largest composite particles, whereas agriculture‐dominated sites produced smaller but more tightly compacted particles. Organic plant fibres appeared to play a vital role in floc formation in peat‐covered catchments, whereas in agriculture‐dominated catchments, land use‐derived aggregates dominated the composition. This study provides empirical evidence of the importance of effective particle size measurement in understanding the dynamics of suspended particulate matters in boreal lowland river systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

云南高原湖泊有色可溶性有机物和颗粒物光谱吸收特性

云南高原湖泊是我国湖泊分布最密集的五大湖群之一,不但湖泊数量众多而且类型多样.由于湖泊所处位置海拔较高,容易受只益增强UV-B辐射影响.通过对云南高原34个湖泊有色可溶性有机物和颗粒物吸收测定,分析其光谱吸收特性及对总吸收的贡献,有利于深刻理解紫外辐射在高原湖泊内衰减.不同湖泊间CDOM吸收差异明显,其大小与水体营养盐状况相关,CDOM吸收系数与水体总氮存在显著正相关.增加背景项的指数函数模型能最好模拟CDOM光谱吸收.除在浮游植物浓度非常高的杞麓湖、听湖、星云湖,颗粒物吸收系数在675nm附近存在一个吸收蜂外,其它湖泊总颗粒物光谱吸收大致随波长的增加吸收系数逐渐降低,呈现非色素颗粒物光谱吸收特征,整体上颗粒物吸收以非色素颗粒物为主.CDOM对总吸收的贡献主要集中在600nm以下波长,尤其是400nm以下的紫外波段,其在紫外波段(350-400nm)的贡献明显要大于光合有效辐射波段(400-700nm)(ANOVA,P<0.001).特别对于透明度SD≥1.0的清澈型湖泊,CDOM吸收对紫外辐射衰减的贡献更大,其吸收很大程度上决定了紫外辐射的影响深度.     

Composition and sources of organic matter and its solvent extractable components in surface sediments of a bay under serious anthropogenic influences: Daya Bay, China

Organic matter of nine surface sediments from the Daya Bay was Soxhlet-extracted with a mixture of 2:1 (v/v) dichloromethane-methanol and separated into five fractions: non-aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, and fatty acids and asphaltenes, and analyzed to determine their bulk and biomarker composition. Marine autogenic input appears to be a major source of organic matter. Generally, non-aromatic hydrocarbons are the most dominant fraction of solvent-extractable organic matter (EOM) followed by the other four fractions in decreasing amounts: fatty acids and asphaltenes, ketones, alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons. On average, both non-aromatic hydrocarbon fraction and fatty acid and asphaltene fraction account for approximately 40% of EOM. The sources of acyclic methyl ketones, alkanols and fatty acids were examined. For n-alkan-2-ones, allochthonous input is a more important source than marine autogenetic input; the reverse is true for n-fatty acids; for n-alkanols, allochthonous and autogenetic inputs seem comparable. Both n-alkan-2-ones and n-fatty acids in the surface sediments of different areas appear to be derived from common sources.     

Fluvial transport of coarse particulate organic matter in a coastal mountain stream of a rainy-temperate evergreen broadleaf forest in southern Chile

Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, i.e. particles such as leaves, wood fragments, twigs, branches, flowers, seeds and fruits) in aquatic systems influences the flow, provides an important food source, and at the catchment scale, may significantly contribute to total carbon export. CPOM exports have rarely been quantified in subtropical, broadleaf forest streams. We captured CPOM in Bunte traps in the rainfall-dominated Vuelta de Zorra stream in southern Chile to (a) propose a novel classification to characterize the different CPOM components, (b) analyze the frequency of each matter class (i.e. leaves, wood fragments, and ‘others’) and its seasonal variability, (c) quantify the CPOM transported, (d) derive a model to quantify CPOM transport rates, and (e) compare the transported CPOM data with those from a unique long-term (> seven years) large wood monitoring dataset. Results showed that leaves were significantly more abundant than other types of CPOM in all seasons. The dry CPOM transport rate ranged over three orders of magnitude, and there was a significant relationship with mean discharge. Mean dry CPOM yield for the study period 2015–2017 was 4.6 kg/ha/yr when normalizing to the total forested catchment area. The 2009–2018 decadal average yield was 6.8 kg/ha/yr when normalizing to the total forested catchment area. These values are similar to measurements from deciduous and coniferous forests in streams in the United States and the Brazilian Mato Grosso and ~1/10 of the yields obtained in a Swiss torrent. Over a three-year period, the CPOM exports in Vuelta de Zorra ranged between 13 and 36% of the exported large wood (particles with diameters ≥ 100 mm and length ≥ 1 m) exports. Our data collected from an underrepresented area improve the understanding of global carbon budgets and cycling. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elemental and stable isotopic constraints on river influence and patterns of nitrogen cycling and biological productivity in Hudson Bay

Elemental (carbon and nitrogen) ratios and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) are examined in sediments and suspended particulate matter from Hudson Bay to study the influence of river inputs and autochthonous production on organic matter distribution. River-derived particulate organic matter (POM) is heterogeneous, nitrogen-poor and isotopically depleted, consistent with expectations for OM derived from terrestrial C3 vascular plant sources, and distinct from marine OM sources. Both δ¹³C and C/N source signatures seem to be transmitted to sediments with little or no modification, therefore making good tracers for terrigenous OM in Hudson Bay. They suggest progressively larger contributions from marine sources with distance from shore and secondarily from south to north, which broadly corresponds to the distribution of river inputs to Hudson Bay. Processes other than mixing of marine and terrigenous OM influence sedimentary δ¹⁵N values, including variability in the δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton in the Bay's surface waters due to differences in relative nitrate utilization, and post-production processes, which bring about an apparently constant ¹⁵N-enrichment between surface waters and underlying sediments. Variability in the δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton in the Bay's surface waters, in contrast, seems to be organized spatially with a pattern that suggests an inshore–offshore difference in surface water nitrogen conditions (open- vs. closed-system) and hence the δ¹⁵N value of phytoplankton. The δ¹⁵N patterns, supported by a simple nitrate box-model budget, suggest that in inshore regions of Hudson Bay, upwelling of deep, nutrient-rich waters replenishes surface nitrate, resulting in ‘open system’ conditions which tend to maintain nitrate δ¹⁵N at low and constant values, and these values are reflected in the sinking detritus. River inflow, which is constrained to inshore regions of Hudson Bay, appears to be a relatively minor source of nitrate compared to upwelling of deep waters. However, river inflow may contribute indirectly to enhanced inshore nutrient supply by supporting large-scale estuarine circulation and consequently entrainment and upwelling of deep water in this area. In contrast to previous proposals that Hudson Bay is oligotrophic because it receives too much fresh water (Dunbar, 1993), our results support most of the primary production being organized around the margin of the Bay, where river flow is constrained.     

Seasonal and spatial variation in suspended matter,organic carbon,nitrogen, and nutrient concentrations of the Senegal River in West Africa

The Senegal River is of intermediate size accommodating at present about 3.5 million inhabitants in its catchment. Its upstream tributaries flow through different climatic zones from the wet tropics in the source area in Guinea to the dry Sahel region at the border between Senegal and Mauritania. Total suspended matter, particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen as well as nutrient concentrations were determined during the dry and wet seasons at 19 locations from the up- to downstream river basin. The aims of the study were to evaluate the degree of human interference, to determine the dissolved and particulate river discharges into the coastal sea and to supply data to validate model results. Statistical analyses showed that samples from the wet and dry season are significantly different in composition and that the upstream tributaries differ mainly in their silicate and suspended matter contents. Nutrient concentrations are relatively low in the river basin, indicating low human impact. Increasing nitrate concentrations, however, show the growing agriculture in the irrigated downstream areas. Particulate organic matter is dominated by C4 plants during the wet season and by aquatic plankton during the dry season. The total suspended matter (TSM) discharge at the main gauging station Bakel was about 1.93 Tg yr⁻¹ which is in the range of the only available literature data from the 1980s. The calculated annual discharges of particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are 55.8 Gg yr⁻¹, 54.1 Gg yr⁻¹, and 5.3 Gg yr⁻¹, respectively. These first estimates from the Senegal River need to be verified by further studies.     

Fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) transport and processing in littoral interstices – use of fluorescent markers

A fluorescent labelling method is presented as a new tool for the investigation of organic particle transport and biogenic carbon cycling processes in sandy littoral interstices at Lake Tegel, Berlin, Germany. Passive particle transport through the pore system was studied by in situ exposition of 2.4 μm monodisperse polymeric resin microparticles stained with 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC). Uptake of fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled Chlorella vulgaris and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) by the interstitial fauna was investigated in laboratory and field experiments. The major portion (>85%) of the FITC-labelled particles added to sediment cores was recovered from the topmost centimetre of sediment during the study period of 14 days. Uptake of FITC-labelled FPOM was observed in several benthic groups, e.g. chironomids, microcrustaceans, oligochaetes and tardigrads, whereas C. vulgaris was ingested by oligochaetes only. There is evidence to suggest that both are suitable materials for investigating the fragmentation and ingestion of organic material by herbivorous and detritivorous fauna. Field experiments with inert microparticles and FITC-labelled FPOM (<1 mm) prepared from dried alder leaves were carried out in plexiglass tubes as in situ whole core technique. Within the investigation period of two weeks, the transport of FPOM was restricted to the topmost 2–3 cm of sediment in conjunction with a distinct fragmentation to finer size classes with respect to increasing sediment depth. Vertical FPOM transport was hindered by a high interstitial concentration of natural POM and an intensive settlement of the interstices by algae (mainly epispammic algae, 65–96% of algae cell number) and extra-cellular polymeric substances (EPS), which formed a dense three-dimensional structure.     

Characterization of colloidal and particulate matter transported by the magela creek system,Northern Australia

The composition and amount of colloidal and suspended participate matter transported during a small flood event in Magela Creek in tropical northern Australia was investigated. The flood studied constituted approximately 3 % of the total annual flow, most (90%) of which occurred between mid-January and mid-February of the study year. Three fractions were separated from water samples using a sequential method involving a continuous flow centrifuge to separate suspended particulate matter (SPM; nominally > 1 μm) followed by hollow fibre filtration, first using a 0.1 μm filter to separate course colloidal matter (CCM; nominal size 1–0.1 μm) and then a 0–015 μm filter to separate fine colloidal matter (FCM; nominal size 0.1–0.015 μm). The SPM was predominantly inorganic (organic matter 21 %), whereas the colloidal fractions were dominantly organic matter (CCM 60%; FCM 83%). Analysis of individual particles using electron microprobe and automated image analysis indicated that the mineral fractions in both the SPM and CCM were dominated by iron-enriched aluminosilicates (including kaolinite) (72–82%) and quartz (9–10%), indicative of a highly weathered and extensively laterized catchment. Surprisingly there was very little difference in the composition of the SPM or CCM fractions during the flood event studied, which may indicate either that sediment availability was restricted following the major run-off events in January and February, or that all the sediment sources within the catchment are geochemically similar. Approximately the same amounts of particulate (20 tonne), colloidal (21 tonne) and dissolved material (17 tonne) were transported during the 25 hour period of the main flood peak; over 90% of the colloidal matter was 0.1–1.0 μm in size. These data suggest that previous estimates of the amounts of particulate (and colloidal) matter transported by Magela Creek, which were based on suspended solids measurements, may have underestimated the particulate matter load by as much as 50%. It is possible that the relatively high proportion of colloidal matter is unique to Magela Creek because coagulation and aggregation of colloidal matter to particulate matter is slow due to the very low concentations of calcium and magnesium in these waters. However, if the result is more widespread, there are important implications for the global estimates of fluvially transported particulate and dissolved materials as many of the previous studies may have underestimated the particulate load and overestimated the dissolved load.     

富营养化湖泊沉积物有机质矿化过程中碳、氮、磷的迁移特征

采用室内培养的方法,以富营养化湖泊太湖为例,研究了沉积物有机质矿化过程中碳、氮、磷的迁移特征.结果表明,在沉积物中的有机质矿化过程中,碳以溶解性无机碳释放至水中,同时以CH4和CO2形式释放至大气中,培养结束时,CH4和CO2累积排放含量分别为1492.21和498.96 mg/g(dw),其中CH4占气态碳的89.16%(以C质量计);此外,大量的氮、磷营养盐释放至上覆水体,水中总氮、总磷和铵态氮的最高浓度分别是初始浓度的62.16、28.16和139.45倍,而硝态氮浓度在整个培养过程中逐渐下降,培养末期浓度是初期的0.21倍;厌氧条件下,沉积物有机质的矿化,不仅可以生成大量的CH4、CO2气体,还能够促使沉积物中铵态氮和磷的释放;而沉积物有机质矿化释放的碳、氮、磷营养元素又能加剧湖泊富营养化程度,促进湖泊水体的初级生产力,从而增加湖泊沉积物有机质输入.这样的循环方式可能是湖泊富营养化自维持的重要机制之一.     

太湖梅梁湾藻华暴发-消退周期表层水体溶解性有机质分子特征

人类活动引起的富营养化对太湖的碳循环模式可能产生严重影响,精细描述太湖藻华暴发-消退周期的溶解性有机质分子是了解太湖碳库动态变化的关键.本研究利用傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱技术,以太湖北部梅梁湾2017年5月至2018年5月的表层水体为研究对象,解析藻华暴发-消退周期溶解性有机质的来源和分子组成特征,进而理解浮游藻类异常增殖对水体溶解性有机质的影响及其在区域碳循环中的角色.研究结果表明,藻华暴发期浮游藻类生产力显著增加,使得表层水体的溶解性有机质从含量到分子组成均发生剧烈改变.含量上表现为溶解性有机碳浓度升高,分子组成上表现为CHO类化合物和以脂肪族类化合物为代表的活性组分占比增加,特征化合物以相对高饱和度和高含氧的小质量数分子为主.而在藻华消退期,随着藻类有机质贡献的减少和有机质降解过程的持续进行,含量上表现为溶解性有机碳浓度下降,分子组成上表现为CHOS、CHONS类化合物和富羧酸脂环类化合物等惰性分子占比增加,特征化合物以大质量数分子和相对低饱和度和低含氧的小质量数分子为主.研究结果表明,太湖水体的溶解性有机质分子组成在藻华暴发期受藻类有机质输入控制,在消退期受藻类有机质降解的影...     

Distribution,characteristics and potential impacts of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay,Canada

The characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were studied in Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait in the Canadian Arctic. Hudson Bay receives a disproportionately large influx of river runoff. With high dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations in Arctic rivers the influence of CDOM on coastal and ocean systems can be significant, yet the distribution, characteristics and potential consequences of CDOM in these waters remain unknown. We collected 470 discrete water samples in offshore, coastal, estuarine and river waters in the region during September and October 2005. Mixing of CDOM appeared conservative with salinity, although regional differences exist due to variable DOM composition in the rivers discharging to the Bay and the presence of sea-ice melt, which has low CDOM concentrations and low salinity. There were higher concentrations of CDOM in Hudson Bay, especially in coastal waters with salinities <28$<28$, due to river runoff. Using CDOM composition of water masses as a tracer for the freshwater components revealed that river runoff is largely constrained to nearshore waters in Hudson Bay, while sea-ice melt is distributed more evenly in the Bay. Strong inshore–offshore gradients in the bio-optical properties of the surface waters in the Hudson Bay cause large variation in penetration of ultraviolet radiation and the photic depth within the bay, potentially controlling the vertical distribution of biomass and occurrence of deep chlorophyll maxima which are prevalent only in the more transparent offshore waters of the bay. The CDOM distribution and associated photoprocesses may influence the thermodynamics and stratification of the coastal waters, through trapping of radiant heating within the top few meters of the water column. Photoproduction of biologically labile substrates from CDOM could potentially stimulate the growth of biomass in Hudson Bay coastal waters. Further studies are needed to investigate the importance of terrestrial DOM in the Hudson Bay region, and the impact of hydroelectric development and climate change on these processes.     

Comparison of C and N stable isotope ratios between surface particulate organic matter and microphytoplankton in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean)

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of particulate organic matter (POM) in surface water and 63–200 μm-sized microphytoplankton collected at the fluorescence maximum were studied in four sites in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean), a marine area influenced by the Rhone River inputs, in May and November 2004. Some environmental (temperature, salinity) and biological (POM, Chlorophyll a and phaeopigments contents, phytoplankton biomass and composition) parameters were also analysed. Significantly different C and N isotopic signatures between surface water POM and microphytoplankton were recorded in all sites and seasons. Surface water POM presented systematically lower δ¹³C (∼4.2‰) and higher δ¹⁵N (∼2.8‰) values than those of microphytoplankton, due to a higher content of continental and detrital material. Seasonal variations were observed for all environmental and biological parameters, except salinity. Water temperature was lower in May than in November, the fluorescence maximum was located deeper and the Chlorophyll a content and the phytoplankton biomass were higher, along with low PON/Chl a ratio, corresponding to spring bloom conditions. At all sites and seasons, diatoms dominated the phytoplankton community in abundance, whereas dinoflagellate importance increased in autumn particularly in coastal sites. C and N isotopic signatures of phytoplankton did not vary with season. However, the δ¹⁵N of surface water POM was significantly higher in November than in May in all sites likely in relation to an increase in ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio of the Rhone River POM which influenced surface water in the Gulf of Lions. As it is important to determine true baseline values of primary producers for analysing marine food webs, this study demonstrated that C and N isotopic values of surface water POM cannot be used as phytoplankton proxy in coastal areas submitted to high river inputs.     

新疆博斯腾湖水体颗粒和溶解有机碳的季节变化及其来源初探

在博斯腾湖选取了13个点位,于2012年5、8、10月测定表层和底层水体中的颗粒有机碳、溶解有机碳、颗粒有机氮和叶绿素a含量.结果显示颗粒和溶解有机碳在表层水体中的浓度与底层相近.博斯腾湖水体中颗粒有机碳的季节变化十分明显,其平均浓度从春季(0.64 mg/L)到夏季(0.71 mg/L)变化不大,但在秋季变化十分显著(浓度达1.58 mg/L).其中西北湖区和湖心区颗粒有机碳的季节变化最明显,东部湖区颗粒有机碳的季节变化相对较小.博斯腾湖水体的颗粒有机碳在春、秋两季主要来自外源输入,在夏季受水体中浮游生物的影响较大.博斯腾湖水体中溶解有机碳也具有一定的季节变化,夏季浓度(平均为9.3 mg/L)略低于春、秋两季(平均为10.3 mg/L).溶解有机碳在河口区的季节变化最强,其夏季浓度明显偏低,主要是由于开都河河水的稀释作用.总体上,博斯腾湖水体中溶解有机碳浓度的变化主要受外部因素的影响.     

Variability in the annual cycle of vertical particulate organic carbon export on Arctic shelves: Contrasting the Laptev Sea,Northern Baffin Bay and the Beaufort Sea

The ongoing regression of sea ice cover is expected to significantly affect the fate of organic carbon over the Arctic continental shelves. Long-term moored sediment traps were deployed in 2005–2006 in the Beaufort Sea, Northern Baffin Bay and the Laptev Sea to compare the annual variability of POC fluxes and to evaluate the factors regulating the annual cycle of carbon export over these continental shelves. Annual POC fluxes at 200 m ranged from 1.6 to 5.9 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ with the highest export in Northern Baffin Bay and the lowest export over the Mackenzie Shelf in the Beaufort Sea. Each annual cycle exhibited an increase in POC export a few weeks before, during, or immediately following sea ice melt, but showed different patterns over the remainder of the cycle. Enhanced primary production, discharge of the Lena River, and resuspension events contributed to periods of elevated POC export over the Laptev Sea slope. High POC fluxes in Northern Baffin Bay reflected periods of elevated primary production in the North Water polynya. In the Beaufort Sea sediment resuspension contributed to most of the large export events. Our results suggest that the outer shelf of the Laptev Sea will likely sustain the largest increase in POC export in the next few years due to the large reduction in ice cover and the possible increase in the Lena River discharge. The large differences in forcing among the regions investigated reinforce the importance of monitoring POC fluxes in the different oceanographic regimes that characterize the Arctic shelves to assess the response of the Arctic Ocean carbon cycle to interannual variability and climate change.     

Erodibility of soil and organic matter: independence of organic matter resistance to interrill erosion

The enrichment of organic matter in interrill sediment is well documented; however, the respective roles of soil organic matter (SOM) and interrill erosion processes for the enrichment are unclear. In this study, organic matter content of sediment generated on two silts with almost identical textures, but different organic matter contents and aggregations, was tested. Artificial rainfall was applied to the soils in wet, dry and crusted initial conditions to determine the effects of soil moisture and rainfall and drying history on organic matter enrichment in interrill sediment. While erosional response of the soils varied significantly, organic matter enrichment of sediment was not sensitive to initial soil conditions. However, enrichment was higher on the silt with a lower organic matter content and lower interrill erodibility. The results show that enrichment of organic matter in interrill sediment is not directly related to either SOM content or soil interrill erodibility, but is dominated by interrill erosion processes. As a consequence of the complex interaction between soil, organic matter and interrill erosion processes, erodibility of organic matter should be treated as a separate variable in erosion models. Further research on aggregate breakdown, in particular the content and fate of the organic matter in the soil fragments, is required. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy metals in particulate and colloidal matter from atmospheric deposition of urban Guangzhou,South China

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and colloidal matter (COM) in annual dry and wet deposition samples in urban Guangzhou were for the first time collected, and their trace metals were investigated by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The deposition flux of SPM and of metal elements varied largely among the investigated seasons, and reached the maximum in spring. The correlation analysis indicated that significant correlations existed among some of the metal elements in the deposition samples. The enrichment factors (EF) of metals in COM in the deposition ranging from 79.66 to 130,000 were much higher than those of SPM ranging from 1.65 to 286.48, indicating the important role of COM. The factor analysis showed that emissions from street dust, non-ferrous metal production, and heavy fuel oil were major sources of the trace metals. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to quantitatively estimate anthropogenic source.     

The fluvial flux of particulate organic matter from the UK: the emission factor of soil erosion

Soil erosion has been identified as a potential global carbon sink since eroded organic matter is replaced at source and eroded material is readily buried. However, this argument has relied on poor estimates of the total fate of in‐transit particulates and could erroneously imply soil erosion could be encouraged to generate carbon stores. These previous estimates have not considered that organic matter can also be released to the atmosphere as a range of greenhouse gases, not only carbon dioxide (CO₂), but also the more powerful greenhouse gases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). As soil carbon lost by erosion is only replaced by uptake of CO₂, this could represent a considerable imbalance in greenhouse gas warming potential, even if it is not significant in terms of overall carbon flux. This work therefore considers the flux of particulate organic matter through UK rivers with respect to both carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas emissions. The results show that, although emissions to the atmosphere are dominated by CO₂, there are also considerable fluxes of CH₄ and N₂O. The results suggest that soil erosion is a net source of greenhouse gases with median emission factors of 5.5, 4.4 and 0.3 tonnes CO_2eq/yr for one tonne of fluvial carbon, gross carbon erosion and gross soil erosion, respectively. This study concludes that gross soil erosion would therefore only be a net sink of both carbon and greenhouse gases if all the following criteria are met: the gross soil erosion rate were very low (<91 tonnes/km²/yr); the eroded carbon were completely replaced by new soil organic matter; and if less than half of the gross erosion made it into the stream network. By establishing the emission factor for soil erosion, it becomes possible to properly account for the benefits of good soil management in minimizing losses of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere as a by‐product of soil erosion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.