Sediment Organic Carbon Accumulation and Erosion-induced CO2 Emissions
in the Delaware Bay Estuarine Salt Marshes
Abstract
Tidal salt marshes are the most productive “Blue Carbon” ecosystem and
play a significant role in the Global Carbon Cycle (Mcleod et al., 2011,
Chung et al., 2011). Salt marshes account for 75% of the organic carbon
(C) found in “Blue Carbon” systems, yet cover less than 1% of Earth’s
surface (Hopkinson et al., 2012, Howard et al., 2014). They have a high
C storage capacity due to a continuous sediment C accumulation rate
(CAR) greater than that of any other “Blue Carbon” ecosystem (Murray
et al., 2011, Chmura, 2013, Ouyang and Lee, 2014). However, Global
estimates of salt marsh C-stocks and CAR are subject to large
uncertainties (Duarte et al, 2013, Chastain et al, 2018). The Delaware
Bay (DB) salt marshes have been developing for ~2000
years. When these systems are degraded they become a potential source of
C-emissions. 8.85 km2 of salt marsh has converted to open water between
1996-2010 and future losses are estimated to reach 5 km2/yr by 2100
(Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, 2017). Conversion could outpace C
storage if the depth of erosion is ≥ the thickness of the marsh
sediments (Theuerkauf et al., 2015). Most salt-marsh sediment C-stock
assessments are reported within the top 1 m of the sediment column
(Ouyang and Lee, 2014), thereby representing ~ 100 years
of salt-marsh accumulation as compared to the actual 1-6 m sediment
sequences accumulated throughout the life span of most U.S. Mid-Atlantic
regional salt marshes (Nikitina et al., 2015, Kirwan et al., 2013, Kemp
et al., 2013). We estimate the average thickness of the DB salt marsh
sediments is 2.6 m, C-stock is 0.1020 MgC/m2 and salt marsh C-stock loss
over the 14 yr period is ~0.9 TgC (3.3MMT CO2
equivalents). As this critical “Blue Carbon” habitat reportedly
declines, the resulting CO2 degassing flux has a significant impact on
the Global Carbon Budget contributing to climate change and ocean
acidification (Cai W-J, 2011). Recognition of this sink-to-source
conversion emphasized the need for more accurate stock estimates and
risk assessments based on estimates of CO2 emissions from lost and
degraded salt marshes (Lovelock et al., 2017). The results show that the
DB salt marshes sequester significant amounts of C, suggesting that
C-stock assessments focused on the top 1 m of sediment underestimate the
total C-stock and potential C-emissions by more than three-fold