New views on “old” carbon in the Amazon River: insight from the source of organic carbon eroded from the Peruvian Andes

Clark, K.E., Hilton, R.G., West, A.J., Malhi, Y., Gröcke, D.R., Bryant, C.L., Ascough, P.L. , Robles Caceres, A. and New, M. (2013) New views on “old” carbon in the Amazon River: insight from the source of organic carbon eroded from the Peruvian Andes. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 14(5), pp. 1644-1659. (doi: 10.1002/ggge.20122)

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Abstract

[1] Mountain rivers play a key role in the delivery of particulate organic carbon (POC) to large river systems and the ocean. Due to the extent of its drainage area and runoff, the Amazon River is one of Earth's most important biogeochemical systems. However, the source of POC eroded from the humid region of the Eastern Andes and the input of fossil POC from sedimentary rocks (POCfossil) remains poorly constrained. Here we collected suspended sediments from the Kosñipata River during flood events to better characterize Andean POC, measuring the nitrogen to organic carbon ratio (N/C), stable carbon isotopes (δ13Corg) and radiocarbon (Δ14Corg). Δ14Corg values ranged from −711‰ to −15‰, and significant linear trends between Δ14Corg, N/C and δ13Corg suggested that this reflects the mixing of POCfossil with very young organic matter (Δ14Corg ~ 50‰) from the terrestrial biosphere (POCnon-fossil). Using N/C and Δ14Corg in an end-member mixing analysis, we quantify the fraction of POCfossil (to within 0.1) and find that it contributes a constant proportion of the suspended sediment mass (0.37 ± 0.03%) and up to 80% of total POC. In contrast, the relative contribution of POCnon-fossil was variable, being most important during the rising limb and peak discharges of flood events. The new data shed light on published measurements of “old” POC (low Δ14Corg) in Andean-fed tributaries of the Amazon River, with their Δ14Corg and δ13Corg values consistent with variable addition of POCfossil. The findings suggest a greater persistence of Andean POC in the lowland Amazon than previously recognized.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bryant, Dr Charlotte and Ascough, Dr Philippa
Authors: Clark, K.E., Hilton, R.G., West, A.J., Malhi, Y., Gröcke, D.R., Bryant, C.L., Ascough, P.L., Robles Caceres, A., and New, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Journal Abbr.:G3
Publisher:American Geophysical Union
ISSN:1525-2027
ISSN (Online):1525-2027

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