Extreme rainstorms drive exceptional organic carbon export from forested humid-tropical rivers in Puerto Rico

Clark, KE ORCID: 0000-0002-3925-2630, Stallard, RF, Murphy, SF ORCID: 0000-0002-5481-3635, Scholl, MA, González, G ORCID: 0000-0003-3007-5540, Plante, AF ORCID: 0000-0003-0124-6187 and McDowell, WH ORCID: 0000-0002-8739-9047 (2022) Extreme rainstorms drive exceptional organic carbon export from forested humid-tropical rivers in Puerto Rico Nature Communications, 13 (1). 2058-. ISSN 2041-1723, 2041-1723

Text Clark et al. 2022 Nat Com Extreme rainstorms drive exceptional organic carbon export from forested humid tropical rivers PR.pdf - Published version Download (762kB) | Preview

Abstract

Extreme rainfall events in the humid-tropical Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico export the bulk of suspended sediment and particulate organic carbon. Using 25 years of river carbon and suspended sediment data, which targeted hurricanes and other large rainstorms, we estimated biogenic particulate organic carbon yields of 65 ± 16 tC km⁻² yr⁻¹ for the Icacos and 17.7 ± 5.1 tC km⁻² yr⁻¹ for the Mameyes rivers. These granitic and volcaniclastic catchments function as substantial atmospheric carbon-dioxide sinks, largely through export of river biogenic particulate organic carbon during extreme rainstorms. Compared to other regions, these high biogenic particulate organic carbon yields are accompanied by lower suspended sediment yields. Accordingly, particulate organic carbon export from these catchments is underpredicted by previous yield relationships, which are derived mainly from catchments with easily erodible sedimentary rocks. Therefore, rivers that drain petrogenic-carbon-poor bedrock require separate accounting to estimate their contributions to the geological carbon cycle.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Carbon, Rivers, Environmental Monitoring, Puerto Rico, Carbon Cycle, Forests
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2022 07:57
Last Modified:	01 Mar 2026 01:47
DOI:	10.1038/s41467-022-29618-5
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3153475
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