• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2010

This study investigated organic carbon fluxes in Ulleung Basin sediments, East Sea based on a chamber experiment and geochemical analyses. At depths greater than 2,000 m, Ulleung Basin sediments have high organic carbon contents (over 2.0%). Apparent sedimentation rates (ASR) calculated from excess $^{210}Pb$ activity distribution, varied from 0.036 to $0.047\;cm\;yr^{-1}$. The mass accumulation rates (MAR) calculated from porosity, grain density (GD), and ASR, ranged from 131 to $184\;g\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$. These results were in agreement with sediment trap results obtained at a water depth of 2100 m. Input fluxes of organic carbon varied from 7.89 to $11.08\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$ at the basin sediments, with an average of $9.56\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$. Below a sediment depth of 15cm, burial fluxes of organic carbon ranged from 2.02 to $3.10\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$. Within the basin sediments, regenerated fluxes of organic carbon estimated with oxygen consumption rate, varied from 6.22 to $6.90\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$. However, the regenerated fluxes of organic carbon calculated by subtracting burial flux from input flux, varied from 5.87 to $7.98\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$. Respectively, the proportions of the input flux, regenerated flux, and burial flux to the primary production ($233.6\;gC\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$) in the Ulleung Basin were about 4.1%, 3.0%, and 1.1%. These proportions were extraordinarily higher than the average of world open ocean. Based upon these results, the Ulleung Basin might play an integral role in the deposition and removal of organic carbon.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 2012

The ascidian Styela clava has been one of the favorite seafood in Korea. Suspended culture of Styela clava was initiated in 2001 and the annual production reached 15,084 M/T, but declined to 2,655 M/T in 2011. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to estimate the material balance according to the farm-environment. Vertical particulate fluxes and release fluxes were estimated at 2 stations, an ascidian farm (AF) and a non-cultivated area (control) in Jindong Bay. An in-situ benthic chamber(BelcI) was used in summer and winter season. The sedimentation fluxes of organic carbon were 72 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, 93 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, 34 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ in Jul. AF, Feb. AF, Feb. control. The organic carbon oxidation rates were 13 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, 81 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, 31 mmol C $m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, in each. The release fluxes of nutrients followed the general pattern, well. Consequently, the ratio of the organic carbon burial fluxes were 20:4:1, in each. By the estimation of the carbon circulation, it could be a scientific basis to analyze the reason of production decline for cultivated organism.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.103-111
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• 1997

Biogeochemical cycling of organic carbon is quantitatively partitioned in terms of 1) flux to the ocean bottom, 2) benthic utilization at or near the sediment-water interface, 3) remineralization and 4) burial within sediments, by making an independent determination for each component process from a single coastal site in Kwangyang Bay. The partitioning suggests that the benthic utilization at or near the sediment-water interface is the major mode of organic carbon cycling at the site. The benthic utilization takes 61.8% (441.6 gCm$^{-2}$ yr $^{-1}$) of the total near-bottem organic carbon flux, 714.6 gCm $^{-2}$yr$^{-1}$, and far exceeds the remineralization of organic carbon within the sediments which amounts only to 6% (41.24 gCm$^{-2}$yr$^{-1}$) of the total near-bottom flux. The residence time is about 1.6 years for the sedimentary metabolic organic carbon in the upper 45 cm. The dominant partitioning of the benthic utilization in the carbon budget suggests that most of labile organic carbons are consumed at or near the sediment-water interface and are left over to the sediment column by significantly diminished amounts.