Dissolved black carbon is not likely a significant refractory organic carbon pool in rivers and oceans

Yuanzhi Qi, Wenjing Fu, Jiwei Tian, Chunle Luo, Sen Shan, Shuwen Sun, Peng Ren, Hongmei Zhang, Jiwen Liu, Xiaohua Zhang and Xuchen Wang ()
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Yuanzhi Qi: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Wenjing Fu: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Jiwei Tian: Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ocean University of China
Chunle Luo: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Sen Shan: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Shuwen Sun: Center for Isotope Geochemistry and Geochronology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
Peng Ren: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Hongmei Zhang: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China
Jiwen Liu: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China
Xiaohua Zhang: Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China
Xuchen Wang: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education/ Center for Frontier Science of Deep Ocean and Earth System, Ocean University of China

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Rivers are the major carriers of dissolved black carbon (DBC) from land to ocean; the sources of DBC during its continuous transformation and cycling in the ocean, however, are not well characterized. Here, we present new carbon isotope data for DBC in four large and two small mountainous rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow river estuaries, the East China Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. We found that the carbon isotope signatures of DBC are relatively homogeneous, and the DBC 14C ages in rivers are predominantly young and increase during continuous transport and cycling in the ocean. The results of charcoal leaching experiments indicate that DBC is released from charcoal and degraded by bacteria. Our study suggests that riverine DBC is labile and respired during transport and mixing into the ocean and that residual DBC is cycled and aged on the same time scales as bulk DOC in the ocean.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18808-8

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