Carbon flux between an estuary and the ocean: A case for outwelling

P E D Winter; Thomas Schlacher; D Baird

doi:10.1007/BF00028513

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Carbon flux between an estuary and the ocean: A case for outwelling

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Carbon flux between an estuary and the ocean: A case for outwelling

P E D Winter, Thomas Schlacher and D Baird

Hydrobiologia, Vol.337(1-3), pp.123-132

1996

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028513

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Abstract

carbon

tidal flux

estuary

outwelling

The classical outwelling hypothesis states that small coastal embayments (e.g. estuaries, wetlands) export their excess production to inshore marine waters. In line with this notion, the present study tested whether the Swartkops estuary acts as source or sink for carbon. To this end, concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were determined hourly during the first monthly spring and neap tides over one year in the tidal waters entering and leaving the estuary. Each sampling session spanned a full tidal cycle, yielding a total of 936 concentration estimates. Carbon fluxes were calculated by integrating concentrations with water flow rates derived from a hydrodynamic model calibrated for each sampling datum. Over the year, exports to marine waters markedly exceeded imports to the estuary for all carbon species: on the basis of total spring tidal drainage area, 1083 g m-2 of DIC, 103 g m-2 of DOC, and 123 g m-2 of POC left the estuary annually. Total carbon export from the estuary to the ocean amounted to 4755 tonnes, of which 83% was in the inorganic form (DIC). Thus, the bulk of carbon moving in the water column is inorganic - yet, DIC seems to be measured only rarely in most flux studies of this nature. Salt marshes cover extensive areas in this estuary and produce some carbon, particularly DOC, but productivity of the local Spartina species is low (P:B = 1.1). Consequently, the bulk of carbon exported from the estuary appears to originate from the highly productive macroinvertebrate and the phytoplankton component and not from the salt marsh plants.

Details

Title: Carbon flux between an estuary and the ocean: A case for outwelling
Authors: P E D Winter (Author) - University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
D Baird (Author) - University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Publication details: Hydrobiologia, Vol.337(1-3), pp.123-132
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date published: 1996
DOI: 10.1007/BF00028513
ISSN: 0018-8158
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449860802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology

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