The fate of erosion displaced soil organic carbon in aquatic systems

This program is to investigate the fate of eroded carbon (C) by simulating erosion and transport on C rich soil, similar to what occurs in rivers. By introducing different types of sediment, with a different amount and quality of C in the system, we will investigate how respiration rates vary with C type, the residence time in the river as well as the degree of disturbance. We will also investigate how the 13DC signature and the 14C age of the respired C compare with that of the transported C so that we can determine which fractions of the soil C is recalcitrant (and which ones not). Taking the aquatic system explicitly into consideration will enable us better understand the fate of eroded C and hence the impact of riverine C transport and aquatic deposition on the global C cycle.