Huiguo Sun

Geochemical characteristics and fluxes of organic carbon in a human-disturbed mountainous river (the Luodingjiang River) of the Zhujiang (Pearl River), China.

This study aims to investigate the state of the riverine organic carbon in the Luodingjiang River under human impacts, such as reforestation, construction of reservoirs and in-stream damming. Seasonal and spatial characteristics of total suspended sediment (TSS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC), as well as C/N ratios and the stable carbon isotopic signatures of POC (delta(13)C(POC)) were examined based on a one-year study (2005) in the basin-wide scale. More frequent sampling was conducted in the outlet of the river basin at Guanliang hydrological station. DOC and POC concentrations showed flush effects with increasing water discharge and sediment load in the basin-wide scale. Atomic C/N ratio of POC had a positive relationship with TSS in the outlet of the basin, indicating the reduced aquatic sources and enhanced terrestrial sources during the high flood season. However, the similar relationship was not observed in the basin-wide scale mainly due to the spatial distributions of soil organic carbon and TSS. delta(13)C(POC) showed obvious seasonal variations with enriched values in the period with high TSS concentration, reflecting the increased contribution from C(4) plants with enhanced soil erosion. The specific flux of the total organic carbon (2.30 t km(-)(2) year(-1)) was smaller than the global average level. The ratio of DOC to POC was 1.17, which is higher than most rivers under Asian monsoon climate regime. The organic carbon flux was estimated to decline with decreasing sediment load as a result of reforestation, reservoir construction and in-stream damming, which demonstrates the impacts of human disturbances on the global carbon cycle.

Major ion chemistry and dissolved inorganic carbon cycling in a human-disturbed mountainous river (the Luodingjiang River) of the Zhujiang (Pearl River), China.

Major ion chemistry and dissolved inorganic carbon system (DIC, mainly HCO3(-) and gaseous CO2) in the Luodingjiang River, a mountainous tributary of the Zhujiang (Pearl River), China, were examined based on a seasonal and spatial sampling scheme in 2005. The diverse distribution of lithology and anthropogenic impacts in the river basin provided the basic idea to assess the effects of lithology vs. human activities on water chemistry and carbon biogeochemistry in river systems. Major ions showed great spatial variations, with higher concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and DIC in the regions with carbonate rocks and clastic sedimentary rocks, while lower in the regions with metamorphic sandstones and schists as well as granites. pCO2 at all sampling sites was oversaturated in June, ranging with a factor from 1.6 to 18.8 of the atmospheric concentration, reflecting the enhanced contribution from baseflow and interflow influx as well as in situ oxidation of organic matter. However, in April and December, undersaturated pCO2 was found in some shallow, clean rivers in the upstream regions. delta13C of DIC has a narrow range from -9.07 to -13.59 per thousand, which was more depleted in the regions with metamorphic rocks and granites than in the carbonate regions. Seasonally, it was slightly more depleted in the dry season (December) than in the wet season (June). The results suggested that lithological variability had a dominant control on spatial variations of water chemistry and carbon geochemistry in river systems. Besides, anthropogenic activities, such as agricultural and urban activities and in-stream damming, as well as river physical properties, such as water depth and transparency, also indicated their impacts. The seasonal variations likely reflected the changes of hydrological regime, as well as metabolic processes in the river.

Chemical weathering inferred from riverine water chemistry in the lower Xijiang basin, South China

Seasonal sampling was conducted on 13 sites involving the lower stem of the Xijiang river and its three tributaries to determine the spatial patterns of the riverine water chemistry and to quantify the chemical weathering rates of carbonate and silicate of the bedrock. Results indicate that the major ions in the Xijiang river system are dominated by Ca(2+) and HCO(3)(-) with a higher concentration of total dissolved solids, characteristic of the drainages developed on typical carbonate regions. Obvious spatial variations of major ion concentrations are found at various spatial scales, which are dominantly controlled by the lithology particularly carbonate distribution in the region. The four selected rivers show similar seasonal variations in major ions, with lower concentrations during the rainy season. Runoff is the first important factor for controlling the weathering rate in the basin, although increasing temperature and duration of water-rock interaction could make positive contributions to the enhancement of chemical weathering. The chemical weathering rates range from 52.6 to 73.7 t/km(2)/yr within the lower Xijiang basin and carbonate weathering is over one order of magnitude higher than that of silicates. CO(2) consumption rate by rock weathering is 2.0 x 10(11) mol/yr, of which more than 60% is contributed by carbonate weathering. The flux of CO(2) released to the atmosphere-ocean system by sulfuric acid-induced carbonate weathering is 1.1 x 10(5) mol/km(2)/yr, comparable with the CO(2) flux consumed by silicate weathering.

CO2 outgassing from the Yellow River network and its implications for riverine carbon cycle

CO2 outgassing across water-air interface is an important, but poorly quantified, component of riverine carbon cycle, largely because the data needed for flux calculations are spatially and temporally sparse. Based on compiled data sets measured throughout the Yellow River watershed and chamber measurements on the main stem, this study investigates CO2 evasion and assesses its implications for riverine carbon cycle. Fluxes of CO2 evasion present significant spatial and seasonal variations. High effluxes are estimated in regions with intense rock weathering or severe soil erosion that mobilizes organic carbon into the river network. By integrating seasonal changes of water surface area and gas transfer velocity (k), the CO2 efflux is estimated at 7.9 ± 1.2 Tg C yr−1 with a mean k of 42.1 ± 16.9 cm h−1. Unlike in lake and estuarine environments where wind is the main generator of turbulence, k is more correlated with flow velocity changes. CO2 evasion in the Yellow River network constitutes an important pathway in its riverine carbon cycling. Analyzing the watershed-scale carbon budget indicates that 35% of the carbon exported into the Yellow River network from land is degassed during fluvial transport. The CO2 efflux is comparable to the carbon burial rate, while both larger than the fluvial export to the ocean. Comparing CO2 evasion with ecosystem productivity in the Yellow River watershed shows that its ecosystem carbon sink has previously been overestimated by >50%. Present efflux estimates are associated with uncertainty, and future work is needed to mechanistically understand CO2 evasion from the highly turbid waters.