Beyond burial: Redefining the blue carbon paradigm

Abstract:

Coastal vegetated ecosystems (mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses) are now established as areas of significant carbon storage. Studies on soil carbon stocks in these habitats have been growing at an exponential rate, leading to the data required to develop global models and estimates. However, research on the export of carbon in dissolved and particulate forms and greenhouse gas fluxes from these productive systems is limited. We will present data from a number of case studies that show that tidal-driven water column export of dissolved inorganic and organic carbon may be of much greater importance as a long term carbon sink. There currently is a lack of data on the rates and drivers of this “invisible” carbon sink to adequately constrain any kind of global modelling exercise. We propose that through a concerted research effort, the blue carbon research community can provide the data required to integrate this invisible carbon sink into the blue carbon paradigm.