| Volumes and Issues Contents of Issue 1 |
www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/5/661/2008/
© Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil
1University of Zurich, Department of Geography, Physical Geography, Biogeochemistry Group, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
2Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
3Department of Geography and Planning, University at Albany, NY 12222, USA
Abstract. Black carbon (BC), from incomplete combustion of fuels and biomass, has been considered highly recalcitrant and a substantial sink for carbon dioxide. Recent studies have shown that BC can be degraded. We use soils sampled 100 years apart in a Russian steppe preserve to generate the first whole-profile estimate of BC stocks and turnover in the field. BC stocks (initially 2.5 kg m-2) decreased 25% with cessation of biomass burning. BC turnover in the soil was 293 y (best estimate; range 212–541 y), much faster than inert/passive carbon in soil models. Such results provide a new constraint on theories of soil carbon stabilization. Most importantly, BC cannot be assumed chemically recalcitrant in all soils; other explanations for very old soil carbon are needed.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 744 KB) Supplement (33 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 6 Comments) Final Revised Paper (BG)
Citation: Hammes, K., Torn, M. S., Lapenas, A. G., and Schmidt, M. W. I.: Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil, Biogeosciences Discuss., 5, 661-683, 2008. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
