Collaborative Research: Tracing the Transformations of Organic Carbon in Marine Sediments using Natural C Isotopes

孔隙水溶解有机碳(DOC)是海洋中特征最少的有机碳库之一。因此，它在海洋碳循环中的生物地球化学作用尚不清楚。来自旧金山州立大学和老道明大学的科学家们建议测试这一假设，即孔隙水DOC不仅由不稳定的颗粒有机碳(POC)水解物组成，而且还由14C耗尽、顽固的POC增溶而产生的抗性部分组成。为了验证他们的假设，将确定圣莫尼卡盆地沉积岩芯中DOC、溶解无机碳、POC和碳酸盐的‘13C和’4C特征的垂直剖面。这些岩心的结果将使用同位素质量平衡模型进行分析，以确定向孔隙水提供DOC的POC组分，被氧化为溶解无机碳的DOC组分，以及积累在孔隙水中并随后作为底栖生物通量从沉积物中释放的组分。这项研究的结果将为了解DOC在缺氧的大陆边缘沉积物中积累和流出的来源和活性提供新的见解。至于更广泛的影响，这项研究的结果不仅将影响我们对海底DOC通量对DOC在海洋中循环的意义的理解，而且还将促进我们对海洋沉积物中有机碳矿化控制的理解。这项研究包括资助研究生和本科生的大量教育和培训机会，以及通过种子项目暑期项目为高中生提供实践研究经验，该项目是美国化学学会的一个项目，旨在鼓励来自低收入家庭的学生追求化学科学的职业生涯。这项研究的结果还将通过教师讲习班和开放日活动等外联活动传播到专业科学界之外。

Pore-water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is one of the least characterized pools of organic carbon in the ocean. Thus, its biogeochemical role in the marine carbon cycle remains unclear. Scientists from San Francisco State University and Old Dominion University propose to test the hypothesis that pore water DOC consists not only of material hydrolyzed from labile particulate organic carbon (POC), but also of resistant moieties derived from the solubilization of 14C-depleted, recalcitrant POC. To test their hypothesis, vertical profiles of '13C and '4C signatures of DOC, dissolved inorganic carbon, POC, and carbonates in sediment cores from Santa Monica Basin would be determined. Results from these cores would be analyzed using an isotope mass balance model to determine the component of POC that supplies DOC to pore waters, the component of DOC that is oxidized to dissolved inorganic carbon, and the component that is accumulated in pore water and subsequently released from sediments as a benthic flux. Results of this research would provide new insight into the sources and reactivity of DOC accumulating in, and effluxing from, anoxic continental margin sediments. As regards broader impacts, the outcome of this research would not only impact our understanding of the significance of benthic DOC fluxes on the cycling of DOC in the oceans, but would also further our understanding of the controls on organic carbon mineralization in marine sediments. This research includes funding to support numerous education and training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students as well as hands on research experiences for high school students through the Project SEED summer programs, an American Chemical Society program created to encourage students from low-income families to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Findings from this study would also be disseminated beyond the professional scientific community through outreach activities such as teacher workshops and open-house events.