RIVERINE CARBON FLUX AND CONTINENTAL EROSION

Riverine carbon, which stems from continental erosions, represents an important link in the global carbon cycle. It is small in quantity compare with other links of the global carbon cycle, however, it deserves especial investigation for its close connection with land ecosystem. The total carbon transported to ocean by rivers is about 1 Gt every year, 60% of which is inorganic carbon, and 40% of which is organic one. Dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC, respectively) come from the chemical and mechanical erosion of the soil. On the other hand, the phytoplankton is another source of a small part of organic carbon. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is the result of the dissolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide and carbonate. Undissolved carbonate composes of particulate inorganic carbon (PIC). The rivers in monsoonal Asia make the greatest contribution to the global riverine carbon flux for the most intense erosion in those areas. However, the investigation of the riverine carbon flux in monsoonal Asia is not being penetrated enough. The research of riverine carbon flux would provided scientific basis for the soil and water conservation, and it is also a new way to probe the anthropogenic carbon dioxide missing sink.