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Long-term carbon burial in European lakes: Analysis and estimate

Kastowski, M. ; Hinderer, Matthias ; Vecsei, A. (2011)
Long-term carbon burial in European lakes: Analysis and estimate.
In: Global Biochemical Cycles, 25 (3)
Article, Bibliographie

Abstract

Sediment accumulation in lakes provides a small but permanent carbon sink. To date, global estimates of the C cycle have barely considered variations in lake carbon burial. To improve the understanding of carbon storage in lakes this study analyzed the sedimentary record of 228 European lakes concerning long-term carbon burial and its correlation to lake and catchment properties. The results suggest that carbon mass accumulations in small lakes are significantly lower than those used for global estimates so far. On the other hand, the total surface area of small lakes has been severely underestimated. Results from calculations based on a Pareto distribution show that total lake surface is 240,000 km2 in Europe. We estimate total C burial in European lakes at 1.25 Mt yr−1. Half this storage takes place in boreal lakes of northern Europe, although they contribute up to 65% to the European lake surface. This is due to generally lower carbon burial rates in this region. Carbon mass accumulation rates increased in many lakes between 5000 to 2000 years BP. This coincides with increased clastic inputs due to land use change, i.e., increasing cropland coverage and soil erosion. On average, carbon accumulation rates are twice as high in younger sediments at 20 cm depth when compared to the long-term mean.

Item Type: Article
Erschienen: 2011
Creators: Kastowski, M. ; Hinderer, Matthias ; Vecsei, A.
Type of entry: Bibliographie
Title: Long-term carbon burial in European lakes: Analysis and estimate
Language: English
Date: 17 September 2011
Journal or Publication Title: Global Biochemical Cycles
Volume of the journal: 25
Issue Number: 3
URL / URN: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2010GB003874/full
Abstract:

Sediment accumulation in lakes provides a small but permanent carbon sink. To date, global estimates of the C cycle have barely considered variations in lake carbon burial. To improve the understanding of carbon storage in lakes this study analyzed the sedimentary record of 228 European lakes concerning long-term carbon burial and its correlation to lake and catchment properties. The results suggest that carbon mass accumulations in small lakes are significantly lower than those used for global estimates so far. On the other hand, the total surface area of small lakes has been severely underestimated. Results from calculations based on a Pareto distribution show that total lake surface is 240,000 km2 in Europe. We estimate total C burial in European lakes at 1.25 Mt yr−1. Half this storage takes place in boreal lakes of northern Europe, although they contribute up to 65% to the European lake surface. This is due to generally lower carbon burial rates in this region. Carbon mass accumulation rates increased in many lakes between 5000 to 2000 years BP. This coincides with increased clastic inputs due to land use change, i.e., increasing cropland coverage and soil erosion. On average, carbon accumulation rates are twice as high in younger sediments at 20 cm depth when compared to the long-term mean.

Divisions: 11 Department of Materials and Earth Sciences
11 Department of Materials and Earth Sciences > Earth Science
11 Department of Materials and Earth Sciences > Earth Science > Applied Sedimentary Geology
Date Deposited: 19 Jun 2015 11:46
Last Modified: 19 Jun 2015 11:46
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