Intertidal zone particulate organic carbon redistribution by low-tide rainfall

We present field data and data from the literature to highlight the effects of low-tide rainfall on particulate organic carbon (POC) redistribution in intertidal landscapes. The POC exchanges reported from disparate but related studies were standardized to a storm-induced exchange rate (gPOC m(-2) mmRain(-1)) and compared. Results show that these intertidal areas have a characteristic response to rainfall with an average flux of 0.040 +/- 0.038 gPOC m(-2) mmRain(-1). Further, low-tide rainfall can entrain and redistribute 7-54% of annual sedimentary POC accumulation, or 12-75% of annual POC export, based on current outwelling assessments. Finally, we provide a conceptual model describing the variability of rainfall-driven POC exchange through the hierarchical structure of intertidal landscapes and how observations of POC flux can be expected to change across the intertidal landscape. This information should be used to guide sampling strategies for continued intertidal zone rainfall work.