Sources and transport of particulate organic carbon in the Amazon River and its estuary

Stable carbon isotope ratios have been used to study the sources of particulate organic carbon(POC) in the Amazon River and its tributaries, and to examine the transport of the riverine POC intothe oceanic environment. POC in the upper reaches of the Amazon River has more positive δC values(--24.5‰ to -- 28.0‰) than that in the middle and lower reaches (--27.9‰ to -- 30.1‰). TheδC of POC from the tributaries is generally more negative than that observed in the Amazon mainchannel. This δC datum shows that the POC in the Amazon main channel is predominantly of terres-trial origin rather than a result of in situ production. A large range of δC values (--17.5‰ to -28.4‰) is observed in the Amazon Estuary and plume. and is considered as the result of the mixing

Spatiotemporal variations in the organic carbon accumulation rate in mangrove sediments from the Yingluo Bay,China,since 1900

Mangroves can not only provide multiple ecosystem service functions,but are also efficient carbon producers,capturers,and sinks.The estimation of the organic carbon accumulation rate(OCAR)in mangrove sediments is fundamental for elucidating the role of mangroves in the global carbon budget.In particular,understanding the past changes in the OCAR in mangrove sediments is vital for predicting the future role of mangroves in the rapidly changing environment.In this study,three dated sediment cores from interior and fringe of mangroves in the Yingluo Bay,China,were used to reconstruct the spatiotemporal variations of the calculated OCAR since 1900 in this area.The increasing OCAR in the mangrove interior was attributed to mangrove flourishment induced by climate change characterized by the rising temperature.However,in the mangrove fringe,the strengthening hydrodynamic conditions under the sea level rise were responsible for the decreasing OCAR,particularly after the1940 s.Furthermore,the duration of inundation by seawater was the primary factors controlling the spatial variability of the OCAR from the mangrove fringe to interior,while the strengthened hydrodynamic conditions after the 1940 s broke this original pattern.

Source apportionment of atmospheric particulate carbon in Las Vegas,Nevada,USA

A study was conducted to quantify wintertime contributions of source types to carbonaceous PM2.5 at four urban sites in the Las Vegas Valley, one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the southwestern United States. Twenty-four hour average ambient samples were collected for mass, ions, elements, organic carbon （OC）, elemental carbon （EC）, and trace organic markers analysis. Additional measurements were made to determine diurnal patterns in light-absorbing black carbon （BC） as a marker for combustion sources. Carbonaceous PM sources of on-road gasoline vehicles, on-road diesel vehicles, and off-road diesel engines were characterized with their chemical profiles, as well as fuel-based emission factors, using an In-Plume Sampling System. The Effective Variance Chemical Mass Balance （EV-CMB） source apportionment model was applied to the ambient samples collected, using source profiles developed in this study as well as profiles from other relevant studies. Four main sources contributed to PM2.5 carbon within the Las Vegas Valley： （1） paved road dust, （2） on-road gasoline vehicles, （3） residential wood combustion, and （4） on-road diesel vehicles. CMB estimated that on-road mixed fleet gasoline vehicles are the largest source for OC and EC at all the sites. The contribution of paved road dust to both OC and EC was 5-10% at the four sites. On-road diesel vehicles contribute 22% of the OC and 34% of the EC at a site near the city center, which is located immediately downwind of a major freeway. Residential wood combustion is a more important source than on-road diesel vehicles for two residential neighborhood sites, These results are consistent with our conceptual model, and the research methodology may be applied to studying other urban areas.