Distribution Characteristics and Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the Pearl River Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Southern China

Ling Zhang; Kedong Yin; Yongqiang Yang; Derong Zhang

doi:10.1007/s12583-013-0327-0

Volume 24 Issue 2

Apr 2013

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Journal of Earth Science > 2013 > 24(2): 262-273.

Ling Zhang, Kedong Yin, Yongqiang Yang, Derong Zhang. Distribution Characteristics and Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the Pearl River Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Southern China. Journal of Earth Science, 2013, 24(2): 262-273. doi: 10.1007/s12583-013-0327-0

Citation:

Ling Zhang, Kedong Yin, Yongqiang Yang, Derong Zhang. Distribution Characteristics and Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the Pearl River Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Southern China. Journal of Earth Science, 2013, 24(2): 262-273. doi: 10.1007/s12583-013-0327-0

Citation:

Ling Zhang, Kedong Yin, Yongqiang Yang, Derong Zhang. Distribution Characteristics and Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the Pearl River Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Southern China. Journal of Earth Science, 2013, 24(2): 262-273. doi: 10.1007/s12583-013-0327-0

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Distribution Characteristics and Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the Pearl River Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Waters, Southern China

doi: 10.1007/s12583-013-0327-0

1.
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
2.
School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
3.
Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China

Funds:

the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) 2012CB956004

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 40903047

More Information

Corresponding author: Kedong Yin, yinkd@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Received Date: 23 May 2012
Accepted Date: 28 Sep 2012
Publish Date: 01 Apr 2013

Abstract

Abstract

Geochemical descriptors (carbon, nitrogen contents, and their isotopes) of sedimentary organic matter (OM) were investigated in the Pearl River estuary (PRE) and adjacent coastal waters. The comprehensive geochemical data of surface and deep sediments were provided, and the sources of sedimentary OM were discussed in this area mainly impacted by human activities. Surface (1–10 cm) and deep (190–200 cm) sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC) were 1.2% and 0.6%, and total nitrogen (TN) contents were 0.09% and 0.05%, with δ¹³C of −24.3‰ and −24.5‰, on the average, respectively. Higher TOC and TN contents combining with relatively negative δ¹³C values in surface sediments suggested the increasing OM inputs from rivers in recent years. Terrestrial organic carbon (OC) contents were 0.70% and 0.36%, and marine OC contents were 0.50% and 0.28% on the average, respectively, in surface and deep sediment. Surface terrestrial and marine OC were lower in river outfalls due to the high current energy, and deep terrestrial and marine OC showed the increasing trend away from the coast. Lower δ¹⁵N was mainly attributed to the influence of river sewage discharge in this study.
- organic matter,
- concentration,
- isotope,
- Pearl River estuary

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