Articles | Volume 18, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-2139-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-2139-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Mar 2021
Research article |
| 24 Mar 2021
| 24 Mar 2021
Organic carbon densities and accumulation rates in surface sediments of the North Sea and Skagerrak
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491
Trondheim, Norway
Terje Thorsnes
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491
Trondheim, Norway
Lilja Rún Bjarnadóttir
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491
Trondheim, Norway
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Short summary
The upper 10 cm of the seafloor of the North Sea and Skagerrak contain 231×106 t of carbon in organic form. The Norwegian Trough, the deepest sedimentary basin in the studied area, stands out as a zone of strong organic carbon accumulation with rates on par with neighbouring fjords. Conversely, large parts of the North Sea are characterised by rapid organic carbon degradation and negligible accumulation. This dual character is likely typical for continental shelf sediments worldwide.
The upper 10 cm of the seafloor of the North Sea and Skagerrak contain 231×106 t of carbon in...
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