Spatiotemporal Variation of the Quality, Origin, and Age of Particulate Organic Matter Transported by the Yangtze River (Changjiang)

TitleSpatiotemporal Variation of the Quality, Origin, and Age of Particulate Organic Matter Transported by the Yangtze River (Changjiang)
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsWu, Y, Eglinton, TI, Zhang, J, Montluçon, DB
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Volume123
Issue9
Pagination2908 - 2921
Date PublishedJan-09-2018
ISSN2169-8953
KeywordsChangjiang, organic carbon, radiocarbon, suspended particulate matter, Three Gorges Dam
Abstract

Information on the age dynamics of particulate organic matter (POM) in large river systems is currently sparse and represents an important knowledge gap in our understanding of the global carbon cycle. Here we examine variations in organic geochemical characteristics of suspended sediments from the Changjiang (Yangtze River) system collected between 1997 and 2010. Higher particulate organic carbon content (POC%) values were observed in the middle reach, especially after 2003, and are attributed to the increase of in situ (aquatic) primary production associated with decreased total suspended matter concentrations. Corresponding C-14 values from depth profiles taken in 2009 and 2010 indicate spatial and temporal variations in POC sources within the basin. Two isotopic mass balance approaches were explored to quantitatively apportion different sources of Changjiang POM. Results indicate that contributions of biomass and pre-aged soil organic matter are dominant, regardless of hydrological conditions, with soil-derived organic carbon comprising 17-56% of POC based on a Monte Carlo three-end-member mixing model. In contrast, binary mixing model calculations suggest that up to 80% of POC (2009 samples only) derived from biospheric sources. The emplacement of the Three Gorges Dam and resulting trapping of sediment from the upper reach of the watershed resulted in a modification of POM C-14 ages in the reservoir. With the resulting decline in sediment load and increase in the proportion of modern POC in the lower reach, these changes in POM flux and composition of the Changjiang have significant implications for downstream carbon cycle processes.

URLhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1029/2017JG004285http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1029/2017JG004285/fullpdfhttps://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1029%2F2017JG004285
DOI10.1029/2017JG004285