Role of the continental margin in the global carbon balance during the past three centuries

Fred T. Mackenzie*, Abraham Lerman, Leah May B. Ver

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

The global continental margins are important sites of deposition and regeneration of terrestrial organic carbon and of calcium carbonate produced in situ. The material balance of organic carbon in the coastal zone determines to a large extent its role as either a source or sink of CO 2 relative to the atmosphere. We explore the role of the continental margin in the global cycling of carbon during the recent geologic past using a new model, TOTEM (Terrestrial Ocean Atmosphere Ecosystem Model). We conclude that during the past 300 yr, the coastal zone has been a site of relatively stable calcium carbonate deposition, as well as a site of greater input, recycling, and storage of terrestrial organic carbon. As a result, more organic carbon in the coastal zone is remineralized than produced in situ by photosynthesis (i.e., the coastal zone is net heterotrophic), and this reduces its sink strength for anthropogenic CO 2 . Continuation of this trend in the future will weaken the ability of the coastal zone to act as a sink for the rising anthropogenic CO 2 in the atmosphere. Reversal of the carbon biogeochemical balance from net remineralization (heterotrophy) to net production (autotrophy) may occur in those continental margin sections where bioproduction is enhanced by elevated inorganic nutrient inputs (e.g., coastal upwelling zones) and/or where there is efficient carbon storage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)423-426
Number of pages4
JournalGeology
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geology

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