Organic carbon fluxes to the ocean from high-standing islands

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2002 Organic carbon fluxes to the ocean from high-standing islands W. Berry Lyons; W. Berry Lyons 1Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carmen A. Nezat; Carmen A. Nezat 1Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anne E. Carey; Anne E. Carey 2Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1398, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Murray Hicks D. Murray Hicks 3National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 8602, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information W. Berry Lyons 1Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002, USA Carmen A. Nezat 1Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002, USA Anne E. Carey 2Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1398, USA D. Murray Hicks 3National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 8602, Christchurch, New Zealand Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Oct 2001 Revision Received: 07 Jan 2002 Accepted: 14 Jan 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (5): 443–446. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0443:OCFTTO>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 03 Oct 2001 Revision Received: 07 Jan 2002 Accepted: 14 Jan 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation W. Berry Lyons, Carmen A. Nezat, Anne E. Carey, D. Murray Hicks; Organic carbon fluxes to the ocean from high-standing islands. Geology 2002;; 30 (5): 443–446. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0443:OCFTTO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The transfer of terrestrially derived (yet poorly quantified) organic carbon to the oceans is an important yet unagreed upon proportion of the world's carbon budget. The few data that exist suggest that high-standing oceanic islands in the southwest Pacific may make important contributions to the overall terrestrial flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the oceans. We have determined the POC flux from several streams in New Zealand. With those data and previous measurements from Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, we estimate the POC flux from high-standing islands in the southwest Pacific to be 48 × 1012 g C yr−1, a value slightly lower than previous estimates. These islands, which make up only ∼3% of Earth's landmass, contribute 17%– 35% of the estimated POC entering the world's oceans annually and thus may be important sources of terrestrial carbon to the ocean. Anthropogenic activities, especially deforestation and forest harvesting, have probably exacerbated the natural flux. Few to no data exist for many of these islands and thus a more detailed assessment awaits further measurements. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.