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The fate of terrestrial organic carbon in the marine environment
Blair, N.E.; Aller, R.C. (2012). The fate of terrestrial organic carbon in the marine environment, in: Carlson, C.A. et al. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 4. Annual Review of Marine Science, 4: pp. 401-423. https://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-120709-142717
In: Carlson, C.A.; Giovannoni, S.J. (Ed.) (2012). Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 4. Annual Review of Marine Science, 4. Annual Reviews: Palo Alto. ISBN 978-0-8243-4504-4. 542 pp., more
In: Annual Review of Marine Science. Annual Reviews: Palo Alto, Calif. ISSN 1941-1405; e-ISSN 1941-0611, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Marine/Coastal; Terrestrial
Author keywords
    river; source to sink; carbon preservation; deltas; sediments;continental margin

Authors  Top 
  • Blair, N.E.
  • Aller, R.C.

Abstract
    Understanding the fate of terrestrial organic carbon (Corg) delivered to oceans by rivers is critical for constraining models of biogeochemical cycling and Earth surface evolution. Corg fate is dependent on both intrinsic characteristics (molecular structure, matrix) and the environmental conditions to which fluvial Corg is subjected. Three distinct patterns are evident on continental margins supplied by rivers: (a) high-energy, mobile muds with enhanced oxygen exposure and efficient metabolite exchange have very low preservation of both terrestrial and marine Corg (e.g., Amazon subaqueous delta); (b) low-energy facies with extreme accumulation have high Corg preservation (e.g., Ganges-Brahmaputra); and (c) small, mountainous river systems that sustain average accumulation rates but deliver a large fraction of low-reactivity, fossil Corg in episodic events have the highest preservation efficiencies. The global patterns of terrestrial Corg preservation reflect broadly different roles for passive and active margin systems in the sedimentary Corg cycle.

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