Journal article
Groundwater releases CO 2 to diverse global coastal ecosystems
Science advances, Vol.11(2), pp.1-10
10/01/2025
PMID: 39792679
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems play a major role in marine carbon budgets, but substantial uncertainties remain in the sources and fluxes of coastal carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Here, we assess when, where, and how submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) releases CO 2 to shallow coastal ecosystems. Time-series observations of dissolved CO 2 and radon ( 222 Rn, a natural groundwater tracer) across 40 coastal systems from 14 countries revealed large SGD-derived CO 2 fluxes. The mean groundwater partial pressure of CO 2 was 35 times higher than surface seawater. The mean SGD-derived CO 2 flux was 148 ± 226 millimoles per square meter per day (mmol m −2 day −1 ), resulting in a mean water-air CO 2 flux of 80 ± 133 mmol m −2 day −1 . Tidal rather than diel cycles drove CO 2 enrichment in most ecosystems. Tidally driven SGD was the primary CO 2 source in mangroves, salt marshes, tidal flats, estuaries, and canals. Overall, we expand current knowledge of marine carbon cycles by demonstrating SGD as an important source of CO 2 that requires inclusion in coastal carbon budgets.
Details
- Title
- Groundwater releases CO 2 to diverse global coastal ecosystems
- Creators
- Aprajita S. Tomer - University of GothenburgTristan McKenzie - University of GothenburgClaudia Majtényi-Hill - University of GothenburgAlex Cabral - University of GothenburgYvonne Y. Y. Yau - University of GothenburgMitchell Call - Southern Cross UniversityXiaogang Chen - Westlake UniversityRogger E. Correa - Southern Cross UniversityKay Davis - Southern Cross UniversityLuke Jeffrey - Southern Cross UniversityMahmood Sadat-Noori - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreDouglas Tait - Southern Cross UniversityJackie Webb - Southern Cross UniversityDamien T. Maher - Southern Cross UniversityLinnea Henriksson - University of GothenburgStefano Bonaglia - University of GothenburgShibin Zhao - Ocean University of ChinaM. Bayani Cardenas - The University of Texas at AustinIsaac R. Santos - University of Gothenburg
- Publication Details
- Science advances, Vol.11(2), pp.1-10
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Grant note
- Australian Research Council: FT170100327 Australian Research Council: DE140101733 Australian Research Council: DP120101645 Swedish Research Council Formas: 2019-03930 Swedish Research Council Formas: 2020-00457 Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation
- Identifiers
- 991013250842402368
- Copyright
- © Copyright © 2025 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article