Atmospheric Particles Are Major Sources of Aged Anthropogenic Organic Carbon in Marginal Seas

Deposition of atmospheric particulates is a major pathway for transporting materials from land to the ocean, with important implications for climate and nutrient cycling in the ocean. Here, we report the results of year-round measurements of particulate organic carbon (POC) and black carbon (BC) in atmospheric aerosols collected on Tuoji Island in the coastal Bohai-Yellow Sea of China (2019-2020) and during a cruise in the western North Pacific. Aerosol POC contents ranged from 1.9 to 11.9%; isotope values ranged from -18.8 to -29.0 parts per thousand for delta C-13 and -150 to -892 parts per thousand for delta C-14, corresponding to C-14 ages of 1,235 to 17,780 years before present (BP). Mass balance calculations indicated that fossil carbon contributed 19-66% of the POC, with highest values in winter. BC produced from fossil fuel combustion accounted for 18-54% of the POC. Old BC (mean 6,238 +/- 740 yr BP) was the major contributor to POC, and the old ages of aerosol POC were consistent with the C-14 ages of total OC preserved in surface sediments of the Bohai-Yellow Sea and East China Sea. We conclude that atmospheric deposition is an important source of aged OC sequestered in marginal sea sediments and thus represents an important sink for carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Automated summary

Deposition of atmospheric particulates plays a significant role in transporting materials from land to the ocean, impacting climate and nutrient cycling. This study reveals that old organic carbon (OC) in aerosols contributes significantly to marginal sea sediments, serving as a crucial sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.