Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Compositions: How Lacustrine Environmental Factors Respond in Northwestern and Northeastern China

Surface lake sediments,28 from Hoh Xil,24 from northeastern China,99 from Lake Bosten,31 from Ulungur and 26 from Heihai were collected to determine δ13C and δ18O values.Considering the impact factors,conductivity,alkalinity,pH,TOC,C/N and carbonate-content in the sediments,Cl,P,S,and metal element ratios of Mg/Ca,Sr/Ca,Fe/Mn of bulk sediments as environmental variables enable evaluation of their influences on δ13C and δ18O using principal component analysis(PCA) method.The closure and residence time of lakes can influence the correlation between δ13C and δ18O.Lake water will change from fresh to brackish with increasing reduction and eutrophication effects.Mg/Ca in the bulk sediment indicates the characteristic of residence time,Sr/Ca and Fe/Mn infer the salinity of lakes.Carbonate formation processes and types can influence the δ13C–δ18O correlation.δ18O will be heavier from Mg-calcite and aragonite formed in a high-salinity water body than calcite formed in freshwater conditions.When carbonate content is less than 30%,there is no relationship with either δ13C or δ18O,and also none between δ13C and δ18O.More than 30%,carbonate content,however,co-varies highly to δ13C and δ18O,and there is also a high correlation between δ13C and δ18O.Vegetation conditions and primary productivity of lakes can influence the characteristics of δ13C and δ18O,and their co-variance.Total organic matter content(TOC) in the sediments is higher with more terrestrial and submerged plants infilling.In northeastern and northwestern China,when organic matter in the lake sediments comes from endogenous floating organisms and algae,the δ13C value is high.δ13C is in the range of 4‰ to 0‰ when organic matter comes mainly from floating organisms(C/N<6);in the range of 4‰ to 8‰ when organic matter comes from diatoms(C/N=6 to 8);and 8‰ to 4‰ when organic matter comes from aquatic and terrestrial plants(C/N>8).     

河西猪野泽沉积物有机地化指标之间的关系及古环境意义

探讨了河西走廊石羊河终端湖泊--猪野泽晚冰期以来沉积物总有机碳(TOC)、碳氮比(C/N)、有机碳同位素(δ13C)三种有机地球化学指标之间的关系及古环境意义.结果表明:猪野泽QTH01剖面沉积物TOC指标主要代表湖泊及流域的植被初级生产力;C/N值受到周围区域表土C/N值和沉积物成岩过程的双重影响,总体较低,并不能直...     

Organic geochemical record of increased productivity in Lake Naukuchiyatal, Kumaun Himalayas, India

Organic geochemical proxies have been studied in a 45-cm-long core retrieved from Lake Naukuchiyatal in Kumaun Himalayas, India. Increase in TOC, N, hydrocarbons and pigments concentration from bottom to surface sediments of the core indicates increase in the lake productivity. Stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ ¹⁵ N), biomarkers (TAR, CPI and n-ΣC_15,17,19) and C/N atomic (between 9 and 12) suggest dominance of algal derived organic matter in these sediments. Decrease in organic δ¹³C values (between ?27 and ?31‰) in surface sediments indicate influence of sewage and land runoff in shifting organic δ¹³C values, whereas low (between ?0.23 and 2.2‰) δ¹⁵N values together with high pigment concentrations (zeaxanthin and echinenone) represent dominance of cyanobacteria in the lake.     

鄂陵湖晚全新世沉积物记录的黄河源区气候环境变化

通过对青藏高原黄河源区鄂陵湖35cm长的沉积物岩芯（NR-1）中总有机碳含量（TOC）、总氮含量（TN）、碳氮比值（C_org/N_tot）以及有机碳同位素（δ¹³C_org）和总氮同位素（δ¹⁵N_tot）等地球化学指标的分析,并结合青海地区文献资料记载的人口数量变化以及高原湖泊水位记录,对研究区近1500a以来的气候环境变化进行了深入探讨。结果表明：近两百多年以来鄂陵湖沉积物中TOC和TN指标呈现明显上升的趋势,与青海东部地区人口数量变化趋势一致,表明近代人类活动已经对青藏高原最大淡水湖生态系统产生了显著的影响;而沉积物中δ¹³C_org值变化与青海湖水文环境重建指标具有可比性,说明高原大型淡水湖泊沉积物δ¹³C_org值可指示湖泊水位波动;此外δ¹⁵N_tot值变化趋势与青藏高原东北部已有的古温度记录总体一致,推测鄂陵湖沉积物δ¹⁵N_tot值可能响应了湖泊水体营养状态的变化,间接指示了湖泊夏季表层水温的波动。本研究为青藏高原腹地高海拔现代湖泊沉积物中有机碳和总氮含量及其同位素指标的解译提供了全新的思路。

     

Influence of the biological carbon pump effect on the sources and deposition of organic matter in Fuxian Lake,a deep oligotrophic lake in southwest China

Biological carbon pumping (BCP) is a key process in which dissolved inorganic carbon in terrestrial aquatic ecosystems is utilized by aquatic autotrophs for photosynthesis and transformed into autochthonous organic matter (AOC). However, the mechanisms underlying BCP and the amount of generated AOC deposited effectively, are still poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a systematic study combining modern hydrochemical monitoring and a sediment trap experiment in Fuxian Lake (Yunnan, SW China), the second-deepest plateau, oligotrophic freshwater lake in China. Temperature, pH, EC (electrical conductivity), DO (dissolved O₂), [HCO₃⁻], [Ca²⁺], SI_c, partial CO₂ (pCO₂) pressure, and carbon isotopic compositions of HCO₃⁻ (δ¹³C_DIC) in water from Fuxian Lake all displayed distinct seasonal and vertical variations. This was especially apparent in an inverse correlation between pCO₂ and DO, indicating that variations of hydrochemistry in the lake water were mainly controlled by the metabolism of the aquatic phototrophs. Furthermore, the lowest C/N ratios and highest δ¹³C_org were recorded in the trap sediments. Analyses of the C/N ratio demonstrated that the proportions of AOC ranged from 30% to 100% of all OC, indicating that AOC was an important contributor to sedimentary organic matter (OC). It was calculated that the AOC flux in Fuxian Lake was 20.43 t C km⁻² in 2017. Therefore, AOC produced by carbonate weathering and aquatic photosynthesis could potentially be a significant carbon sink and may have an important contribution to solving the lack of carbon sinks in the global carbon cycle.

     

日本大沼湖沉积物碳氮比值、有机碳同位素特征及其近400年的古气候环境意义

通过对日本大沼湖沉积物样品总有机碳含量(TOC)及其稳定同位素、总氮含量(TN)和C/N 值的测定, 结合沉积岩芯火山灰和 14C 年代, 分析了大沼湖沉积物中有机质的来源, 探讨了沉积物有机碳同位素的主要影响因素。结果表明: 大沼湖沉积物中有机质主要来源于自生藻类, 受陆源输入的影响较小; 沉积物δ13C 值指示了夏季温度的变化。过去400年来, 大沼湖地区存在1660~1730年和1780~1860年两个明显的冷期, 与邻近地区冰芯、树轮和湖泊沉积物记录的冷期基本一致, 分别对应于Maunder和Dalton太阳黑子极小期。     

Composition and origin of organic matter in surface sediments of Lake Sarbsko: A highly eutrophic and shallow coastal lake (northern Poland)

We present an organic geochemical study of surface sediments of Lake Sarbsko, a shallow coastal lake on the middle Polish Baltic coast. The aim was to provide evidence concerning the origin of the organic matter (OM) and its compositional diversity in surface deposits of this very productive, highly dynamic water body. The content and composition of the OM in the bottom sediments were investigated at 11 sampling stations throughout the lake basin. OM sources were assigned on the basis of bulk indicators [total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ¹³C_TOC and δ¹⁵N and extractable OM yield], biomarker composition of extractable OM and compound-specific C isotope signatures. The source characterization of autochthonous compounds was verified via phytoplankton analysis. The distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons in the sediments, as well as temporal changes in lake water pH, the concentration of DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) and δ¹³C_DIC were used to trace OM decomposition.The sedimentary OM is composed mainly of well preserved phytoplankton compounds and shows minor spatial variability in composition. However, the presence of CH₄ and CO₂ in the bottom deposits provides evidence for microbial degradation of sedimentary OM. The transformation of organic compounds in surface, bottom and pore waters via oxidative processes influences carbonate equilibrium in the lake and seasonally favours precipitation or dissolution of CaCO₃.The data enhance our understanding of the relationships between the composition of sedimentary OM and environmental conditions within coastal ecosystems and shed light on the reliability of OM proxies for environmental reconstruction of coastal lakes.     

A biogeochemical study of sediments from the eutrophic Lake Lugano and the oligotrophic Lake Brienz,Switzerland

The biomarker composition and stable isotope (C, O) ratio values of organic matter (OM) and carbonate from sediment cores from the oligotrophic Lake Brienz and the eutrophic Lake Lugano (both in Switzerland) are compared, in order to obtain information about OM sources and transformation processes. Eutrophic conditions at Lake Lugano are reflected in elevated total organic carbon (TOC) content and hydrogen index (HI) values, as well as higher lipid concentrations. Parallel down core trends in δ¹³C values of TOC and calcite in the Lake Lugano sediments reflect bioproductivity cycles. Variations in δ¹⁸O values of calcite are consistent with changes in mean summer temperature over the time interval covered by the core. In contrast, such a correlation does not exist for Lake Brienz and there the stable isotope composition of calcite reflects its allochthonous origin. In the sediments of both lakes, fatty acid (FA) distributions and the composition of n-alkanols and n-alkanes indicate highly variable proportions of autochthonous OM sources (algae, zooplankton, bacteria) and OM from land plants. Enhanced in situ microbial synthesis during sediment deposition in Lake Lugano is suggested by the higher TOC-normalised concentrations of branched chain FAs (C₁₅–C₁₇), hopanoic acids and triterpenoid alcohols (i.e. tetrahymanol, diplopterol). Variations in the concentrations of cholesterol are related to contributions from zooplankton and/or green algae, while sitosterol concentrations reflect the input of vascular plants. Periods of increased input of OM from diatoms are evidenced by high 24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (either epibrassicasterol or brassicasterol) and/or highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes concentrations. High relative concentrations of diplopterol in Lake Lugano sediments are consistent with the predominance of cyanobacteria commonly observed in eutrophic lakes. The presence of archeol and hydroxyarcheol in very low concentrations in the Lugano sediments argues for the activity of methanogens and/or anaerobic methanotrophs.Differences in OM degradation processes are reflected in higher chlorin index values in the Brienz sediments but higher saturated vs. unsaturated n-FAs in the core from Lugano. Higher concentrations of branched chain FAs and 16:1ω7 n-FA, as well as enhanced 18:1ω7/18:1ω9 n-FA, are consistent with enhanced bacterial biomass in the Lugano water column or sediments. The preservation of phytol seems to be enhanced in sediments with a high relative contribution of land plant OM. Major factors affecting OM accumulation in the lakes are differences in OM sources (i.e. terrestrial OM vs. autochthonous production), extent of bacterial activity and most likely oxygen availability in the water column.     

Hydrogen sulfide and organic carbon at the sediment–water interface in coastal brackish Lake Nakaumi, SW Japan

The relationship among H₂S, total organic carbon (TOC), total sulfur (TS) and total nitrogen contents of surface sediments (0–1 cm) was examined to quantify the relationship between H₂S concentrations and TOC content at the sediment water interface in a coastal brackish lake, Nakaumi, southwest Japan. In this lake, bottom water becomes anoxic during summer due to a strong halocline. Lake water has ample dissolved SO₄ ^2? and the surface sediments are rich in planktic organic matter (C/N 7–9), which is highly reactive in terms of sulfate reduction. In this setting the amount of TOC should be a critical factor regulating the activity of sulfate reduction and H₂S production. In portions of the lake where sediment TOC content is less than 3.5 %, H₂S was very low or absent in both bottom and pore waters. However, in areas with TOC >3.5 %, H₂S was correlated with TOC content (pore water H₂S (ppm) = 13.9 × TOC (%) ? 52.1, correlation coefficient: 0.72). H₂S was also present in areas with sediment TS above 1.2 % (present as iron sulfide), which suggests that iron sulfide formation is tied to the amount of TOC. Based on this relationship, H₂S production has progressively increased after the initiation of land reclamation projects in Lake Nakaumi, as the area of sapropel sediments has significantly increased. This TOC–H₂S relationship at sediment–water interface might be used to infer H₂S production in brackish–lagoonal systems similar to Lake Nakaumi, with readily available SO₄ ^2? and reactive organic matter.     

Relationship between organic matter and mercury in recent lake sediment: The physical–geochemical aspects

This study addresses the physical geochemical aspects of the relationship between Hg and organic matter in recent sediment from eutrophic lakes in central Alberta, Canada. The types of organic matter in the sediment are classified based on their degree of thermal degradation and their petrographical characteristics. This study uniquely applies the methods conventionally used in petroleum geosciences (Rock-Eval^® analyses and organic petrology) to investigate the relationship between various types of organic matter and the concentration of Hg in sediment.The results show that the total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment represents the sum of various organic compounds, which may play a completely different role in the distribution and accumulation of Hg. Strong correlations between TOC and the concentration of Hg in the studied sediment arise mainly from the thermally labile portion of organic matter released during pyrolysis under 300 °C. These compounds primarily consist of easily degradable algal-derived lipids and various pigments, which are petrographically described as soluble organic matter (SOM). The preserved SOM in sediment is commonly entrapped within the cell walls of phytoplankton and also appear as surface coating on sediment particles. The strong affinity between Hg and SOM is due not only to its chemical reactivity, but also to the physical characteristic of these labile compounds. The SOM may provide a substrate with enormous surface area by concentrating on the finer sediment size fractions and potentially acting as a “concentrator” for Hg and other organic-associated elements. Lastly, the quantity of the SOM has been calculated as an “elemental concentrator” portion of the TOC, which plays the most important role in the distribution of Hg in sediment.     

Water and sediment quality assessment in the mid-Black Sea coast of Turkey using multivariate statistical techniques

The aim of this study was to investigate the water and sediment quality in the mid-Black Sea coast of Turkey. The samples were collected from six stations during 2007. Investigated parameters were total carbon (TC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), total organic carbon (TOC), ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂-N), total phosphorus (TP), sulphate, total hardness, methylene blue active substances (MBAS), phenol, adsorbable organic halogens (AOX), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in water samples and TC, TIC, TOC, TP, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), redox potential (Eh) and water content (WC) in sediment samples. Different multivariate statistical techniques were used to evaluate variations in surface water and sediment quality. Principal component analysis helped in identifying the factors or sources responsible for water and sediment quality variations. Five factors were found responsible for 87.63% of the total variance in the surface waters. In sediments, three factors explained 84.73% of the observed total variance. Cluster analysis classified the monitoring sites into two groups based on similarities of water and sediment quality characteristics.     

太湖东部湖湾水生植物生长区底泥氮磷污染特征

为了解太湖东部湖湾(贡湖湾、光福湾、渔洋湾)表层底泥中氮、磷的污染特征及其与水生植物生长的关系,采集了各湖湾滨岸带水生植物生长区的表层底泥,探讨了水生植物的生长与分布对表层底泥中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)及总有机碳(TOC)等含量的影响,并对表层底泥进行营养评价.结果表明,水生植物生长密集区底泥中TN、TP、TOC的含量均显著低于水生植物零星生长区,说明水生植物的生长对太湖东部湖湾表层底泥中营养盐与有机碳含量具有较为明显的影响;相关性分析显示,表层底泥中TOC与TN含量呈显著相关性(R2=0.832 8),而与TP的相关性则较弱(R2=0.166 5),反映了TOC在湖泊底泥中的沉积可能成为湖泊氮的重要来源,而对磷的影响较小.利用有机指数与有机氮指数两种方法分别对东部各湖湾底泥进行污染评价,贡湖湾、光福湾、渔洋湾底泥有机指数平均值分别为0.142 7、0.228 6与0.208 6,均属较清洁与尚清洁水平,而各湖湾有机氮指数平均值均为Ⅲ与Ⅳ级,说明底泥已遭受了一定程度的氮污染.因此,对水生植物零星生长区表层底泥中氮含量的控制与削减有利于湖泊富营养化的预防与治理.     

The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur,northwest China

Ma, L., Wu, J., Yu, H., Zeng, H. & Abuduwaili, J. 2011: The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur, northwest China. Boreas, Vol. 40, pp. 518–524. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00200.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Lake Ebinur, Xinjiang, northwest China, is a closed‐basin, shallow lake that responds rapidly to changes in the ratio of precipitation to evaporation (P/E). A sediment record spanning the last 1500 years was obtained from the lake. We used δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C in bulk carbonate, and δ¹³C of organic matter in the lake sediments to infer environmental changes in the Ebinur region during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). Decreased δ¹⁸O values of carbonate largely reflect an enhanced P/E ratio within the basin and a higher lake level. Bulk carbonates with higher δ¹³C values are deposited during periods when lake‐water pH is high, while lower δ¹³C values reflect a lower pH in the water column. δ¹³C in organic matter is associated with the amount of precipitation. The results indicate that the Ebinur region experienced a dry MWP and a wet LIA, although the MWP and LIA were warm and cold periods, respectively, as expected. Furthermore, the MWP and LIA were hydrologically complex and cannot be characterized as uniformly wet or dry. Peak wet periods are recorded in the sediment core around AD 1000, 1400 and 1700, and a dry event also occurred in the period of temperature change within the LIA (cold to warm around AD 1500). A comparison of the Lake Ebinur data with proxy records for the strength of the Siberian High and climate proxy indicators suggests that precipitation in the Ebinur region was a consequence, in part, of an enhanced Siberian High during the LIA.     

Enriched stable carbon isotopes in the pore waters of carbonate sediments dominated by seagrasses: Evidence for coupled carbonate dissolution and reprecipitation

Studies of the δ¹³C of pore water dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³C-DIC) were carried out in shallow water carbonate sediments of the Great Bahamas Bank (GBB) to further examine sediment-seagrass relationships and to more quantitatively describe the couplings between organic matter remineralization and sediment carbonate diagenesis. At all sites studied δ¹³C-DIC provided evidence for the dissolution of sediment carbonate mediated by metabolic CO₂ (i.e., CO₂ produced during sediment organic matter remineralization); these observations are also consistent with pore water profiles of alkalinity, total DIC and Ca²⁺ at these sites. In bare oolitic sands, isotope mass balance further indicates that the sediment organic matter undergoing remineralization is a mixture of water column detritus and seagrass material; in sediments with intermediate seagrass densities, seagrass derived material appears to be the predominant source of organic matter undergoing remineralization. However, in sediments with high seagrass densities, the pore water δ¹³C-DIC data cannot be simply explained by dissolution of sediment carbonate mediated by metabolic CO₂, regardless of the organic matter type. Rather, these results suggest that dissolution of metastable carbonate phases occurs in conjunction with reprecipitation of more stable carbonate phases. Simple closed system calculations support this suggestion, and are broadly consistent with results from more eutrophic Florida Bay sediments, where evidence of this type of carbonate dissolution/reprecipitation has also been observed. In conjunction with our previous work in the Bahamas, these observations provide further evidence for the important role that seagrasses play in mediating early diagenetic processes in tropical shallow water carbonate sediments. At the same time, when these results are compared with results from other terrigenous coastal sediments, as well as supralysoclinal carbonate-rich deep-sea sediments, they suggest that carbonate dissolution/reprecipitation may be more important than previously thought, in general, in the early diagenesis of marine sediments.     

苏北潮滩湿地不同生态带碳、氮、磷分布特征*

通过对比苏北潮滩湿地不同生态带的表层以及柱状沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷和有机磷含量,并结合不同植被不同植株部位中碳、氮、磷的含量变化,分析了潮滩沉积物中碳、氮、磷的垂向和水平分布特征与规律,探讨了不同生态带以及潮滩植被对碳、氮、磷等生源要素的富集作用。对比分析结果表明:苏北潮滩湿地各生态带对不同的测量指标有着不同的富集作用,互花米草滩的总有机碳、总氮和有机磷含量要远大于其他几个生态带,光滩沉积物中总磷的含量最高; 粒度效应是控制互花米草前缘地带以及互花米草滩沉积物中有机碳和氮分布的一个重要因素,盐蒿和芦苇滩中有机碳和氮的分布更多的是受粒度之外的其他因素影响; 不同生态带表层沉积物中的C/N比值分布,大致可反映其有机物来源的差异,而不同生态带中柱状沉积物中的C/N比值相对接近,很难根据C/N比值大小来对不同生态带中的有机物来源进行判断,这可能是埋藏在柱状沉积物中的有机物更多的受到了早期成岩作用造成的。植被对潮滩湿地中碳、氮、磷的分布有着重要影响,3种物质在互花米草、盐蒿和芦苇中的含量差别不是很大,因此潮滩植被对沉积物中上述3种物质的贡献差别主要是由不同植被的生物量和其所处环境的沉积动力差异造成的。     

Biogeochemical processes involving acetate in sub-seafloor sediments from the Bering Sea shelf break

Biogeochemical processes involving acetate in sub-seafloor sediments from piston core PC23B from the Bering Sea shelf break were inferred by examining the stable carbon isotopic relationships between acetate and other relevant carbon compounds: total organic carbon (TOC) in the sediment solid phase, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in pore water. Throughout the core, the isotopic composition of acetate (δ¹³C_acetate), from −31‰ to −29‰, was ¹³C-depleted by ca. 7‰ vs. DOC (δ¹³C_DOC) and its depth profile approximately paralleled that of δ¹³C_DOC, suggesting that the principal process producing acetate was fermentation of dissolved organic compounds. However, the ¹³C depletion in δ¹³C_acetate indicates some contribution of acetogenesis to total acetate production, because acetogenesis results in ¹³C depletion of the acetate produced. The relative contribution of acetogenesis via the H₂/CO₂ reaction, calculated by using a two source isotope mixing model, increased with depth in the sulfate reduction zone from 10% to 15% and was constant at 19% in the methanogenic zone. The acetogenic contribution to acetate production in the methanogenic zone underlying the sulfate reduction zone is consistent with reported observations, whereas the occurrence of acetogenesis in the sulfate reduction zone may be related to the contribution of terrestrial organic matter (OM) to the sedimentary OM in that depth interval, because the terrestrial component likely includes precursors that favor organoautotrophic acetogenesis. The high acetate concentration (up to 81 μM) and TOC content (up to 1.4%) at the same depth (<200 cmbsf) suggest that some relationship exists between acetate production rate and TOC content, or that a temperature increase during core storage at room temperature might stimulate acetate-producing microbial activity in the high TOC sediment.     

Anthropogenic impacts recorded in the sediments of Lunawa, a small tropical estuary, Sri Lanka

The Lunawa Estuary has been selected as a model for studying the long-term diagnoss of tropical estuarine pollution and its impact on ecosystems. Surface and short-core sediments from the Lunawa Estuary were collected, and analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen, sulfur and hydrocarbon contents, hydrogen index and other related sediment properties. Water quality and surface sediment data indicate that the Lunawa Estuary is presently an anoxic water body. The upper part of the sediment cores, characterized by very high TOC values of more than 10%, and absence of bioturbation along with strong laminations indicate anoxic water since 1970 AD, determined by ¹⁴ C dating. However, before 1970 AD, lower TOC content and presence of bioturbation and homogenous sediments with animal traces suggest the presence of oxic bottom water and thus a much better physicochemical condition. The lower part of the cores may also suggest the influence of gradual global warming. Regular laminations in the upper portions of the cores probably resulted from monsoon pulses with material preserved under anoxic condition.     

21kaB.P.以来大兴安岭中段月亮湖沉积物全岩有机碳同位素组成变化及其古气候意义

月亮湖是位于大兴安岭中段阿尔山-柴河火山区的一个火山口湖,地处现今季风/非季风影响的过渡地带,对气候环境变化反应敏感。月亮湖长约9m的沉积岩芯记录了21cal.kaB.P.来的古气候演化历史。月亮湖沉积物全岩有机碳同位素组成( δ13 Corg)、总有机碳含量(TOC)和总氮含量(TN)分析结果表明: δ13 Corg值分布范围为 -34.3 ‰ ~-24.8 ‰ ,具有9.5 ‰ 的变化幅度,但总体仍然在陆生C3植物的变化范围内。TOC含量分布范围为1.04 ％ ~23.55 ％ ,TN含量分布范围为0.08 ％ ~1.78 ％ ,TOC与TN含量变化趋势相同,呈正相关性,两者都显示出末次冰期晚期时含量特别低的特征。沉积物的 TOC/TN 比值(原子比)分布范围为6.3~28.2,其中末次冰期晚期的值比较低,说明沉积物中有机质以内源水生生物为主,其后 TOC/TN 比值明显升高且多>14,说明大部分有机质来源于汇水盆地中的陆生植物。根据多个指标综合分析,有效湿度的影响很可能是 δ13 Corg 变化的主导因素。因此,近2万年来月亮湖全岩有机碳同位素组成变化与古气候变化的对应关系是: 暖湿气候对应着偏负的 δ13 Corg值,冷干气候对应着偏正的 δ13 Corg值,全新世期间因植被变化不大,其 δ13 Corg值变化幅度也不大。     

沉积过程中有机碳及Globigerinoides ruber氧、碳同位素变化特征--以南海南部为例

由水体到沉积物,不同沉积阶段的沉积过程也有所不同。通过对比南海南部（SCS-S）水体沉降颗粒物、海底表层沉积物和岩芯柱状沉积物（上部3 m）中Globigerinoides ruber氧、碳同位素（δ18O、δ13C）值和有机碳（TOC）含量及堆积速率的变化,系统分析了TOC、δ18O、δ13C等环境演变指标参数在沉积过程中的变化特征。结果显示:1）整个沉积过程中,TOC及同位素等环境演变指标参数的变化情况并不一致。不过,由下层水体沉降到海底表层的过程中,TOC及堆积速率（分别由4.20%、0.38 g/（cm2·ka）下降到1.182%、0.039 g/（cm2·ka）、δ18O、δ13C值（分别偏重0.196 ‰、0.855 ‰） 均出现了明显变化。而一旦形成表层沉积物并被埋藏覆盖形成海底沉积物层（以岩芯柱状沉积物代表）以后,在不考虑冰期-间冰期气候旋回的影响下,除TOC外,δ18O、δ13C值等则基本保持不变;2）不同沉积阶段,TOC含量变化与δ18O、δ13C值的相关性分析表明,岩芯柱状沉积物中TOC含量变化与δ18O、δ13C变化之间的相关性最为明显,特别是TOC含量与δ18O 变化间呈显著正相关（r=0.74）,即由下层水体到表层沉积物这一沉降过程中,TOC含量与堆积速率的突变及其对应的底层水中溶解氧（O₂）、二氧化碳（CO₂）含量变化可能是诱导δ18O、δ13C大幅偏重的主要因素。因此,利用TOC等指标参数进行古环境变化分析时有必要考虑不同沉积过程的影响。     

Soil organic matter as an important contributor to Late Quaternary sediments of the tropical West African continental margin

The contribution of soil organic matter (SOM) to continental margins is largely ignored in studies on the carbon budget of marine sediments. Detailed geochemical investigations of late Quaternary sediments (245-0 ka) from the Niger and Congo deep-sea fans, however, reveal that C_org/N_tot ratios and isotopic signatures of bulk organic matter (δ¹³C_org) in both fans are essentially determined by the supply of various types of SOM from the river catchments thus providing a fundamentally different interpretation of established proxies in marine sciences. On the Niger fan, increased C_org/N_tot and δ¹³C_org (up to −17‰) were driven by generally nitrogen-poor but ¹³C-enriched terrigenous plant debris and SOM from C₄/C₃ vegetation/Entisol domains (grass- and tree-savannah on young, sandy soils) supplied during arid climate conditions. Opposite, humid climates supported drainage of C₃/C₄ vegetation/Alfisol/Ultisol domains (forest and tree-savannah on older/developed, clay-bearing soils) that resulted in lower C_org/N_tot and δ¹³C_org (< −20‰) in the Niger fan record. Sediments from the Congo fan contain a thermally stable organic fraction that is absent on the Niger fan. This distinct organic fraction relates to strongly degraded SOM of old and highly developed, kaolinite-rich ferallitic soils (Oxisols) that cover large areas of the Congo River basin. Reduced supply of this nitrogen-rich and ¹²C-depleted SOM during arid climates is compensated by an elevated input of marine OM from the high-productive Congo up-welling area. This climate-driven interplay of marine productivity and fluvial SOM supply explains the significantly smaller variability and generally lower values of C_org/N_tot and δ¹³C_org for the Congo fan records. This study emphasizes that ignoring the presence of SOM results in a severe underestimation of the terrigenous organic fraction leading to erroneous paleoenvironmental interpretations at least for continental margin records. Furthermore, burial of SOM in marine sediments needs more systematic investigation combining marine and continental sciences to assess its global relevance for long-term sequestration of atmospheric CO₂.