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Long-term rise in riverine dissolved organic carbon concentration is predicted by electrolyte solubility theory

The riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux is of similar magnitude to the terrestrial sink for atmospheric CO(2), but the factors controlling it remain poorly determined and are largely absent from Earth system models (ESMs). Here, we show, for a range of European headwater catchments, that el...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Monteith, Donald T., Henrys, Peter A., Hruška, Jakub, de Wit, Heleen A., Krám, Pavel, Moldan, Filip, Posch, Maximilian, Räike, Antti, Stoddard, John L., Shilland, Ewan M., Pereira, M. Gloria, Evans, Chris D.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Association for the Advancement of Science 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9848639/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36652511
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade3491
Descripción
Sumario:The riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux is of similar magnitude to the terrestrial sink for atmospheric CO(2), but the factors controlling it remain poorly determined and are largely absent from Earth system models (ESMs). Here, we show, for a range of European headwater catchments, that electrolyte solubility theory explains how declining precipitation ionic strength (IS) has increased the dissolution of thermally moderated pools of soluble soil organic matter (OM), while hydrological conditions govern the proportion of this OM entering the aquatic system. Solubility will continue to rise exponentially with declining IS until pollutant ion deposition fully flattens out under clean air policies. Future DOC export will increasingly depend on rates of warming and any directional changes to the intensity and seasonality of precipitation and marine ion deposition. Our findings provide a firm foundation for incorporating the processes dominating change in this component of the global carbon cycle in ESMs.