Catálogo de publicaciones - libros

This chapter presents a concise history of biogeochemistry, in particular how the disciplines geochemistry and microbial ecology were integrated into biogeochemistry. The rationale for the focus on carbon cycling and a simple carbon budget are presented. The chapter ends with the presentation of a simple reactive-transport model.

Primary production is at the base of all life on earth; it is thus important to quantify it and to understand the governing factors. We will present, at a very basic level, the primary producers. This will be followed by the introduction of the master equation of primary production, based on laboratory studies, and then a discussion of its application to natural systems.  

In this chapter, we discuss carbon consumption in the context of the “ biological pump”. We first discuss carbon consumption pathways in the euphotic zone, then the factors governing export of organic carbon from the euphotic zone and particle degradation in the ocean interior. Processes specifically related to organic carbon consumption in the coastal zone are presented as well.

Globally most of the organic carbon delivered to sediments (~90%) is degraded because organic carbon burial is low (~0.2–0.4 Pg C y) and mainly occurs in rapidly accumulating coastal sediments. In this chapter, we will first discuss organic matter delivery to the sediments, then the processes and organisms involved in organic matter degradation and close with a discussion of factors governing organic carbon burial.

In this chapter, we will first refresh the basics of inorganic carbon chemistry in water and seawater, then introduce alkalinity and buffering, and discuss how biological processes and mineral formation are impacted and impact carbon dioxide in marine systems. Ocean acidification is introduced to the reader.

Following a concise discussion of Redfield organic matter and non-Redfield organic matter, we focus on organic matter as food for organisms, the compositional consequences of preferential consumption and the consequences for the composition of organic matter preserved and buried in marine sediments.