Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers
Abstract The magnitude and distribution of organic carbon (OC) transport from the terrestrial surface to the oceans is not well understood on a global scale. This hinders our understanding of terrestrial and marine carbon cycles. In this study, we determined the characteristics of OC flux. Our resul...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Carbon Balance and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-025-00318-z |
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| author | Fei Chen Xiaoyong Bai Guangjie Luo Guangying Zhang Chen Ran Xuling Luo |
| author_facet | Fei Chen Xiaoyong Bai Guangjie Luo Guangying Zhang Chen Ran Xuling Luo |
| author_sort | Fei Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The magnitude and distribution of organic carbon (OC) transport from the terrestrial surface to the oceans is not well understood on a global scale. This hinders our understanding of terrestrial and marine carbon cycles. In this study, we determined the characteristics of OC flux. Our results showed that approximately 420 Tg C/yr of OC are transported from the terrestrial surface to the oceans, including 220 Tg C/yr of particulate organic carbon (POC) and 200 Tg C/yr of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Asia, with only 32.46% of the basin area, accounts for 57.65% of the total POC flux, while North America, with only 17.52% of the basin area, accounts for 37.51% of DOC flux. Of these, the Pacific receives 48% of the total POC flux, and the Atlantic receives 46% of the total DOC flux. Five key zones are diagnosed and identified, in which latitudes between 5° N and 20° S contributed 72.76% of the global OC flux. Such insights directly reveal global riverine OC flux, which helps us to comprehensively understand the terrestrial and marine carbon cycles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c23db54a4f1d4e02b8303844c04a390c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1750-0680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Carbon Balance and Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-c23db54a4f1d4e02b8303844c04a390c2025-08-24T11:07:04ZengBMCCarbon Balance and Management1750-06802025-08-0120111610.1186/s13021-025-00318-zAssessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by riversFei Chen0Xiaoyong Bai1Guangjie Luo2Guangying Zhang3Chen Ran4Xuling Luo5Guizhou Institute of Water Resource ScienceState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesGuizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic State Monitoring of Watershed, Guizhou Education UniversityGuizhou Zong Heng Li Chuang Technology Co., LTDCollege of Resources and Environment, ZunYi Normal UniversityThe Third Surveying and Mapping Institute of Guizhou ProvinceAbstract The magnitude and distribution of organic carbon (OC) transport from the terrestrial surface to the oceans is not well understood on a global scale. This hinders our understanding of terrestrial and marine carbon cycles. In this study, we determined the characteristics of OC flux. Our results showed that approximately 420 Tg C/yr of OC are transported from the terrestrial surface to the oceans, including 220 Tg C/yr of particulate organic carbon (POC) and 200 Tg C/yr of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Asia, with only 32.46% of the basin area, accounts for 57.65% of the total POC flux, while North America, with only 17.52% of the basin area, accounts for 37.51% of DOC flux. Of these, the Pacific receives 48% of the total POC flux, and the Atlantic receives 46% of the total DOC flux. Five key zones are diagnosed and identified, in which latitudes between 5° N and 20° S contributed 72.76% of the global OC flux. Such insights directly reveal global riverine OC flux, which helps us to comprehensively understand the terrestrial and marine carbon cycles.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-025-00318-zParticulate organic carbonDissolved organic carbonCarbon fluxMarine carbon cycle |
| spellingShingle | Fei Chen Xiaoyong Bai Guangjie Luo Guangying Zhang Chen Ran Xuling Luo Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers Carbon Balance and Management Particulate organic carbon Dissolved organic carbon Carbon flux Marine carbon cycle |
| title | Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| title_full | Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| title_short | Assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| title_sort | assessing the global flux of organic carbon transported from terrestrial surfaces to oceans by rivers |
| topic | Particulate organic carbon Dissolved organic carbon Carbon flux Marine carbon cycle |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-025-00318-z |
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