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Carbon isotope geochemistry in the Yalujiang estuary

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Abstract

The distribution of particulate organic carbon (POC) along the lower reaches is similar between the dry season and the flood season in the Yalujiang Estuary, North China. However, the values of particulate organic carbon of the upperstream in the dry season are one magnitude lower than the concentrations in the flood season. Stable carbon isotope ratios have been used to study the sources of particulate organic carbon in the Yalujiang Estuary. The isotopic composition of POC shows a range from −23.1% to −29.4% with a little seasonal variation. The isotopic evidence indicates that the POC in the Yalujiang Estuary is predominantly of terrestrial origin rather than a result ofin situ plankton. The study of the ratio of POC: Chla shows that the turbidity maximum plays an important role in POC cycle in the Yalujiang Estuary. Organic detritus and soil erosion are the main contributions to POC in the turbidity maximum, especially in the flood season.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China

    Ying Wu & Jing Zhang

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of Qingdao, 266003, Qingdao, China

    Jing Zhang

Authors
  1. Ying Wu
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  2. Jing Zhang
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Correspondence to Ying Wu.

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Wu, Y., Zhang, J. Carbon isotope geochemistry in the Yalujiang estuary. Sc. China Ser. B-Chem. 44 (Suppl 1), 173–177 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884824

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884824

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