Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2024, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (5): 358-376.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.2.6

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The principle, process, and measurement of karst carbon sink

CAO Jianhua1,2,3(), YANG Hui1,2,3, HUANG Fen1,2,3, ZHANG Chunlai1,2,3, ZHANG Liankai4, ZHU Tongbin1,2,3, ZHOU Mengxia1,2,3, YUAN Daoxian1,2,3   

  1. 1. MNR and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin 541004, China
    2. International Research Center on Karst Under the Auspices of UNESCO/National Center for International Research on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change, Guilin 541004, China
    3. Pingguo, Guangxi Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo 531406, China
    4. Kunming General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Kunming 650111, China
  • Received:2023-08-12 Revised:2024-01-16 Online:2024-09-25 Published:2024-10-11

Abstract:

The carbon cycle in karst ecosystems consists of two parts: biological carbon cycle (driven by plant photosynthesis) and karst carbon cycle (driven by carbonate dissolution and weathering). There is a synergistic effect between karst carbon cycle and terrestrial biological carbon cycle, which significantly impacts terrestrial freshwater ecosystems. Karst carbon sinks primarily occur in the surface karst zone, where plant roots, soil, and rocks intermingle. Their migration and transformation processes take place in both groundwater and surface water systems. There are at least three uncertainties in the measurement of karst carbon sinks within a watershed: changes in the proportion of carbon derived from carbonate rocks versus that from the atmosphere/soil across the entire karst watershed, differentiation of carbon sinks produced by the weathering and dissolution of carbonate versus silicate rocks in certain karst watersheds, and distinctions between endogenous organic carbon produced by aquatic plant photosynthesis and exogenous organic carbon from terrestrial ecosystems. It is recommended to use the watershed as a unit, define watershed boundaries, identify geological structures, analyze land cover configurations, reveal the main controlling factors of the karst carbon cycle and carbon sink effects, establish inversion and forward models, and address gaps in the service functions of karst carbon sinks.

Key words: karst carbon sink, karst carbon cycle, carbon migration-carbon conversion, carbon sink measurement, model construction

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