Organic Carbon Reaction Kinetics in Bioturbated Sediments

Abstract

Most organic carbon delivered to the seafloor is degraded within the bioturbated layer. Theory and empirical evidence have shown that organic carbon reactivity relates to the age of a particle. However, due to particle mixing, the age‐depth linear relation induced by sediment accretion is obfuscated. Here we combine a Lagrangian particle tracking model that resolves the age distribution of particles in the bioturbated zone and couple it to age‐dependent organic carbon degradation. Depth profiles for organic carbon concentration, reactivity and degradation rate are presented for sediments receiving low and high reactivity organic carbon in coastal, continental slope and deep‐sea environments. Our results show that a simple first‐order kinetics model suffices for well‐mixed sediments and systems receiving pre‐processed materials. A reactive continuum approach is needed for poorly mixed sediments receiving highly reactive organic carbon and for sediments below the bioturbated layer.