Carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) between the atmosphere and forested subtropical wetlands is quantified at three locations for 2 years. Each forested wetland showed net carbon uptake (retained in the soil and biomass or transported laterally via overland flow) from the atmosphere both monthly and annually. Changes in NEE were clearly a function of seasonality in solar insolation, air temperature and flooding, which suppressed heterotrophic soil respiration.

In our study we propose new interpretation of commonly found trace fossil of genus Trichichnus which can be regarded as a fossilised bacterial mat system produced by giant sulphur bacteria related to genus Thioploca. We suggest that the bioelectrical processes may occur during some stages of live and/or post-mortem history of Thioploca-housed bacterial consortium. This greatly improves our understaniding of initial colonization of the marine sea floor after improvements of oxygenation.

The energy balance of eddy covariance (EC) flux data is normally not closed. Therefore, EC flux data are usually post-closed, i.e. the measured turbulent fluxes are adjusted so as to close the energy balance. We propose to use in model evaluation the post-closure method uncertainty band (PUB) to account for the uncertainty in EC data originating from lacking energy balance closure. Working with only a single post-closing method might result in severe misinterpretations in model-data comparison.

The Greenland Ice Sheet releases large amounts of freshwater, which strongly influences the biogeochemistry of the adjacent fjord systems and continental shelves. Here we present seasonal observations of the carbonate system in the surface waters of a west Greenland tidewater outlet glacier fjord. Our data reveal a permanent undersaturation of CO2 in the surface layer of the entire fjord and adjacent shelf, creating a high annual uptake of 65gCm-2yr-1.

In 2010, a first-of-its-kind deployment of biological sensors on a mooring in the central Indian Ocean revealed interesting variability in chlorophyll (a proxy for ocean productivity) at timescales of about 2 weeks. Using the mooring data with satellite observations and a biogeochemical model, it was determined that local wind mixing and entrainment, rather than mixed Rossby gravity waves, were likely responsible for much of the observed variability.

In this paper we present, for the first time, results from single-chamber Mg/Ca analyses combined with single-shell δ18O and δ13C for four planktonic foraminiferal species from a sediment trap in the Mozambique Channel. Eddy-induced hydrographic variability is reflected in test carbonate chemistry of these different species. A species-specific depth-resolved mass balance model confirms distinctive migration and calcification patterns for each species as a function of hydrography.

CO2 and CH4 concentrations and fluxes in the Zambezi River basin are well below the median/average values reported previously for tropical rivers, streams and reservoirs, and mainly controlled by the connectivity with floodplains and the presence of waterfalls and man-made reservoirs. The mass balance suggests that carbon transport to the ocean represents the major component (~60%) of the budget, while emissions to the atmosphere account for less than 40% of the total carbon yield.

In this paper, the CO2 and CH4 production due to the subaqueous decomposition of the five most abundant plant species, which are considered to be representative of different rewetting stages, will be presented. Beside continuous gas flux measurements, bulk chemical analyses of plant tissue were performed to gain insights into changing litter characteristics. With respect to temporal vegetation shifts in rewetted fens, the results provide new insights into the climate effect of these ecosystems.

We used measurements of radiocarbon to model the decomposition of organic matter associated with minerals in tropical rainforest soils, using contemporary and archived samples. Most organic matter decomposed over 11 to 26 years, while a smaller portion decomposed over centuries. Rates were similar among soils with strongly differing physical and chemical properties, but declined with a proxy for oxygen limitation. Previous models based on one time point may underestimate decomposition rates.

We used large-eddy simulations to test the sensitivity of roughness parameters to characteristics of canopy structure. We found that displacement height scaled with maximum canopy height, aerodynamic canopy height with maximum canopy height and leaf area index, and eddy-penetration depth with gap fraction. Using a decade of observations, we found that fixed parameterizations of roughness performed well but that empirical approaches that incorporated canopy structure preformed even better.

Based on large, long-term and high-quality data sets, this study describes the mitigation of eutrophication in the Loire River basin since 1980. Reducing direct phosphate inputs in the early 1990s has led to a significant decrease in algal biomass although Corbicula spp. clams invaded the river during this period and have probably played a significant role in phytoplankton decline. A powerful trend and seasonality analysis showed that these changes considerably affected river biogeochemistry.

This study is the first report of the formation of dead zones in the open ocean. A combination of multiple ocean observing system elements (mooring, floats, satellites, ships) allowed us to reconstruct the generation of the dead zones and to connect the formation to enhanced respiration within mesoscale ocean eddies. The dead zones present specific threats to the ecosystem, such as the interruption of the diurnal migration of zooplankters.