Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Craig Smeaton, Handong Yang, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Fjord sediments in mid-latitude Scotland have a high rate of organic carbon burial, accumulating an average of 57.1 g C m(-2) yr(-1 and burying 84,000 tons of OC annually. Despite their smaller area, Scottish fjords play a significant role in global carbon cycling.
Article
Oceanography
Hang Wu, Binbin Deng, Jinlong Wang, Sheng Zeng, Juan Du, Peng Yu, Qianqian Bi, Jinzhou Du
Summary: The sedimentary record in the Arctic region, particularly in Kongsfjord, provides valuable insights into global warming and climate change. By analyzing sediment cores and using various parameters, the study observed an increase in mass accumulation rate and 210Pbex flux in Kongsfjord after the mid-late 1990s. These changes suggest that the Arctic glaciers are significantly influenced by global climate change.
ACTA OCEANOLOGICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Smeaton, W. E. N. Austin
Summary: The sediments in Scottish fjords are rich in organic carbon, with most of it coming from terrestrial sources but also some from marine sources. When compared to other global fjord systems, the Scottish fjords exhibit similar characteristics in terms of organic carbon sources and storage.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tae-Jin Park, Moon-Kyung Kim, Seung-Hyun Lee, Mun-Ju Kim, Young-Sun Lee, Bo-Mi Lee, Ki-Seon Seong, Ji-Hyoung Park, Kyung-Duk Zoh
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of microplastics (MPs) in riverine sediment in South Korea, finding a higher abundance of MPs after the mosoon season. The most common polymer types were polyethylene and polypropylene. The concentrations of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus in the sediment were positively correlated with MP abundance. This study provides valuable findings for managing MP pollution.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel N. Schillereff, Richard C. Chiverrell, Jenny K. Sjostrom, Malin E. Kylander, John F. Boyle, Jessica A. C. Davies, Hannah Toberman, Edward Tipping
Summary: The research suggests that long-term phosphorus accumulation can lead to reduced carbon sequestration in ombrotrophic peatlands, while increased atmospheric nutrient fluxes from human activities may impact carbon storage. Phosphorus supply is identified as one of the important factors influencing long-term carbon storage in ombrotrophic peatlands.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jun-Hyeok Son, Ki-Young Heo, Jung-Woon Choi, Jae-il Kwon
Summary: When a typhoon passes over the western North Pacific, the sea surface temperature drops rapidly, creating a cold wake. Intense typhoons on the day of arrival cause stronger cooling of the sea surface temperature, and the cold conditions can persist for approximately 2 weeks, which are related to the generation of cold-core-like ocean circulation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
DongJoo Joung, Carolyn Ruppel, John Southon, Thomas S. Weber, John D. Kessler
Summary: Naturally occurring gas hydrates may contribute to global warming, but our study found that methane emissions from seep fields along the US Atlantic and Pacific margins are primarily concentrated in shallower water columns, with no evidence of methane reaching surface waters in deeper water columns when the water-column depth is greater than 430 +/- 90 m.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jiawei Jiang, Bowen Meng, Hu Liu, Huanye Wang, Marina Kolpakova, Sergey Krivonogov, Mu Song, Aifeng Zhou, Weiguo Liu, Zhonghui Liu
Summary: The relative proportion of mid-chain to long chain n-alkane homologues and isotopic compositions of total organic carbon have been proposed as lake-level proxies, based on their relationship with submerged aquatic plants. The study in mid-latitude Asia suggests that these proxies can be used to infer lake-level changes, but other influencing factors need to be considered before downcore reconstructions. Combining the P-aq and δC-13(org) indicators could improve the reliability of paleohydrological reconstructions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. V. Kim, V. V. Sattarova, K. I. Aksentov, E. A. Lopatnikov, M. V. Ivanov, A. V. Alatortsev, M. S. Melgunov
Summary: Twenty-seven sediment samples from the eastern Laptev Sea were analyzed for mercury and total organic carbon as well as grain-size distribution. The average total mercury (THg) concentrations in sediments are 29 +/- 14 mu g kg-1. A significant correlation of THg content with total organic carbon and clay and silt fractions was shown. The 210Pb-dated sediment core was used to evaluate the contamination degree and flux of THg in sediments from the eastern Laptev Sea. The average sedimentation rate for the all dated intervals was 0.17 cm/year. The THg flux increased from 20 to 28 mu g/m2/year in the period of 1892-1950 to 53-59 mu g/m2/year in the modern period of 2011-2015. According to various indices, the ecological risk from THg in studied sediment was low.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yi Hou, Mark A. Torres
Summary: This study investigates the impact of sedimentation dynamics on the preservation of organic carbon (OC). It finds that internal sedimentation dynamics have a profound influence on OC preservation efficiencies and may create autogenic signals that can obscure signals from external forcings. The simulations match the field observations, suggesting that sedimentation dynamics and their interactions with biogeochemistry are prevalent in nature.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mika Nieminen, Sakari Sarkkola, Tapani Sallantaus, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Hjalmar Laudon
Summary: The study found that drainage of peatlands in forested catchments contributed to increased TOC concentrations in stream waters in high latitudes, with tree stand volume correlating with the increasing trends of TOC concentrations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Benjamin W. J. Freeman, Chris D. Evans, Samuel Musarika, Ross Morrison, Thomas R. Newman, Susan E. Page, Giles F. S. Wiggs, Nicholle G. A. Bell, David Styles, Yuan Wen, David R. Chadwick, Davey L. Jones
Summary: Drained, lowland agricultural peatlands are significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reducing drainage depths is crucial for responsible management. Wetland agriculture strategies are needed to balance GHG mitigation with productivity in peatlands and compromise systems may help deliver partial reductions in emission rates. Successful implementation of these strategies requires participatory research approaches and cooperation among stakeholders.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Z. Buser-Young, Erin K. Peck, Peter Chace, Laura L. Lapham, Carmella Vizza, Frederick S. Colwell
Summary: Coastal wetland biogeochemistry in high-latitude areas is dynamic in response to climate change. This study focused on the Copper River Delta in Alaska and found key processes related to carbon accumulation rates and microbial communities. Despite high organic matter content, no methane accumulation was observed during the ice-cover period.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Eunji Byun, Hiromitsu Sato, Sharon A. Cowling, Sarah A. Finkelstein
Summary: Research on the American Midwest during the last deglaciation reveals the presence of unique parkland biomes lacking modern analogues. Through regression analysis and regional pollen time series, specific flood-tolerant trees indicative of high wetland prevalence during the Bolling-Allerod interstadial have been identified. These findings suggest the establishment of extensive, yet transient, wetlands in the region, possibly supported by southward discharge of Laurentide Ice Sheet meltwater.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Maria Potouroglou, Danielle Whitlock, Luna Milatovic, Gillian MacKinnon, Hilary Kennedy, Karen Diele, Mark Huxham
Summary: Seagrasses are highly productive ecosystems that provide numerous benefits to the environment and people. This study evaluates the carbon storage capacity of Zostera noltii and Zostera marina in intertidal seagrass meadows in Scotland, finding that seagrass areas show enhanced carbon storage compared to reference unvegetated ones. However, the variability in carbon storage across depth, sites, and estuaries indicates a need for further research and effective management strategies.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thomas S. Bianchi, Sandra Arndt, William E. N. Austin, Douglas Benn, Sebastien Bertrand, Xingqian Cui, Johan C. Faust, Katarzyna Koziorowska-Makuch, Christopher M. Moy, Candida Savage, Craig Smeaton, Richard W. Smith, Jaia Syvitski
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Soil Science
Craig Smeaton, Natasha L. M. Barlow, William E. N. Austin
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Craig Smeaton, Corallie A. Hunt, William R. Turrell, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Continental shelf sediments are significant long-term stores of carbon and play a potentially important role in climate regulation through the Earth's carbon cycle. However, the spatial distribution and carbon content of these sediments are poorly understood, hindering targeted management and protection efforts. Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of continental shelf sediments is crucial for quantifying organic carbon stock and recognizing the potential impact of human activities on releasing CO2.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Letter
Limnology
Craig Smeaton
Summary: Plastic is entering the oceans at an unprecedented rate, impacting natural marine environment functioning. This plastic carbon deposit is becoming a significant part of the marine carbon system, exceeding the rate of organic carbon burial in some marine sediments. This new anthropogenic pathway for carbon to reach the marine environment cannot be ignored, despite being unwanted.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Craig Smeaton, Xingqian Cui, Thomas S. Bianchi, Alix G. Cage, John A. Howe, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Fjord sediments in mid-latitude Scotland have been found to be important sinks for terrestrial organic carbon storage, with increased anthropogenic disturbances over the past 500 years driving a significant increase in the transport of organic carbon from land to coastal oceans. This responsiveness and magnitude of the fjord organic carbon sink may play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and its impact on the climate system.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Craig Smeaton, Handong Yang, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Fjord sediments in mid-latitude Scotland have a high rate of organic carbon burial, accumulating an average of 57.1 g C m(-2) yr(-1 and burying 84,000 tons of OC annually. Despite their smaller area, Scottish fjords play a significant role in global carbon cycling.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
C. Smeaton, W. E. N. Austin
Summary: Disturbance of marine sediments affects the remineralization of organic matter and management interventions should focus on protecting inshore and coastal sediments.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Craig Smeaton, Annette Burden, Paulina Ruranska, Cai J. T. Ladd, Angus Garbutt, Laurence Jones, Lucy McMahon, Lucy C. C. Miller, Martin W. W. Skov, William E. N. Austin
Summary: A new dataset combining geochemical and physical property data from 752 soil samples collected by citizen scientists has allowed for the first national estimates of the surficial soil organic carbon (OC) stock for Great British saltmarshes. The development of a new organic matter to organic carbon conversion method specifically for GB saltmarsh soil has enabled the inclusion of secondary data in the soil stock estimate.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kirsty E. Black, Craig Smeaton, William R. Turrell, William E. N. Austin
Summary: This study estimates that a large amount of organic carbon is stored in the seabed sediment within the UK exclusive economic zone. However, bottom trawling activity poses a potential risk to this organic carbon. To identify areas at greatest risk, the researchers developed a carbon vulnerability ranking using fuzzy set theory and generated predictive maps. The west coast of Scotland was found to be a key area at highest risk. Future safeguarding measures should be considered to protect this natural carbon resource.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Craig Smeaton, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Coastal waters can act as both sources and sinks of carbon, with coastal sediments trapping and storing significant quantities of carbon and releasing carbon to the atmosphere through biogeochemical processes. Fjords in mid- to high-latitudes are important for the burial and storage of organic carbon in sediments, but the distribution of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in fjord waters is not well understood. This study investigated the factors influencing the spatial distribution of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in four Scottish fjords and found that submarine geomorphology is the primary driver of carbon dispersal in fjord surface waters.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Carolyn A. Graves, Lisa Benson, John Aldridge, William E. N. Austin, Franck Dal Molin, Vera G. Fonseca, Natalie Hicks, Clare Hynes, Silke Kroeger, Philip D. Lamb, Claire Mason, Claire Powell, Craig Smeaton, Sarah K. Wexler, Clare Woulds, Ruth Parker
Summary: Continental shelf sediments store a significant amount of organic carbon that plays a role in mitigating climate change. Researchers have developed a toolbox of methods to assess the manageability and vulnerability of carbon stored in these sediments, including stock assessment, accumulation rate analysis, and evaluation of anthropogenic pressures. These methods provide evidence for understanding the role of marine sediments in climate mitigation and help inform future studies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Smeaton, W. E. N. Austin
Summary: The sediments in Scottish fjords are rich in organic carbon, with most of it coming from terrestrial sources but also some from marine sources. When compared to other global fjord systems, the Scottish fjords exhibit similar characteristics in terms of organic carbon sources and storage.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xingqian Cui, Alfonso Mucci, Thomas S. Bianchi, Ding He, Derrick Vaughn, Elizabeth K. Williams, Chuning Wang, Craig Smeaton, Katarzyna Koziorowska-Makuch, Johan C. Faust, Alain F. Plante, Brad E. Rosenheim
Summary: Research suggests that organic carbon in fjord sediments is more susceptible to decomposition, which can dampen atmospheric CO2 decrease during glacial-interglacial climate fluctuations through negative carbon cycling loops.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Lucy C. Miller, Craig Smeaton, Handong Yang, William E. N. Austin
Summary: Saltmarshes are considered carbon hotspots due to their ability to trap and store large amounts of carbon, which can potentially regulate climate. However, estimates of organic carbon storage and burial rates in saltmarsh soils are lacking in many regions, hindering their inclusion in national carbon budgets.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tania L. Maxwell, Andre S. Rovai, Maria Fernanda Adame, Janine B. Adams, Jose Alvarez-Rogel, William E. N. Austin, Kim Beasy, Francesco Boscutti, Michael E. Boettcher, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Richard H. Bulmer, Annette Burden, Shannon A. Burke, Saritta Camacho, Doongar R. Chaudhary, Gail L. Chmura, Margareth Copertino, Grace M. Cott, Christopher Craft, John Day, Carmen B. de los Santos, Lionel Denis, Weixin Ding, Joanna C. Ellison, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis, Luise Giani, Maria Gispert, Swanne Gontharet, Jose A. Gonzalez-Perez, M. Nazaret Gonzalez-Alcaraz, Connor Gorham, Anna Elizabeth L. Graversen, Anthony Grey, Roberta Guerra, Qiang He, James R. Holmquist, Alice R. Jones, Jose A. Juanes, Brian P. Kelleher, Karen E. Kohfeld, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Anna Lafratta, Paul S. Lavery, Edward A. Laws, Carmen Leiva-Duenas, Pei Sun Loh, Catherine E. Lovelock, Carolyn J. Lundquist, Peter Macreadie, Ines Mazarrasa, J. Patrick Megonigal, Joao M. Neto, Juliana Nogueira, Michael J. Osland, Jordi F. Pages, Nipuni Perera, Eva-Maria Pfeiffer, Thomas Pollmann, Jacqueline L. Raw, Maria Recio, Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernandez, Sophie K. Russell, John M. Rybczyk, Marek Sammul, Christian Sanders, Rui Santos, Oscar Serrano, Matthias Siewert, Craig Smeaton, Zhaoliang Song, Carmen Trasar-Cepeda, Robert R. Twilley, Marijn Van de Broek, Stefano Vitti, Livia Vittori Antisari, Baptiste Voltz, Christy N. Wails, Raymond D. Ward, Melissa Ward, Jaxine Wolfe, Renmin Yang, Sebastian Zubrzycki, Emily Landis, Lindsey Smart, Mark Spalding, Thomas A. Worthington
Summary: Tidal marshes are significant carbon reservoirs, and a global dataset of soil organic carbon provides valuable information for researchers and policy-makers. The dataset includes geographic locations, soil depths, and organic carbon data, allowing for estimation of organic carbon stocks in tidal marsh soils.
