Burial of terrestrial organic matter in marine sediments: A re‐assessment

Burdige, David J.

doi:10.1029/2004gb002368

Cited by 569Marine and coastal ecosystemsPaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeology and Paleoclimatology Research

Burial of terrestrial organic matter in marine sediments: A re‐assessment

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Burdige, David J.·2005·Global Biogeochemical Cycles

DOI 10.1029/2004gb002368

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Calculations based on recent observations indicate that approximately one third of the organic matter presently being buried in marine sediments may be of terrestrial origin, with the majority of this terrestrial organic matter (TOM) burial occurring in muddy, deltaic sediments. These calculations further suggest that the remineralization of terrestrial organic matter in the oceans is also much less efficient than that of marine organic matter. These two underappreciated observations have important implications in terms of our understanding of the controls on the global carbon cycle. From a paleoceanographic perspective, the results presented here also suggest that changes in TOM burial on glacial‐interglacial timescales have the potential to impact the global carbon cycle (i.e., atmospheric CO 2 levels).

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Marine-derived organic carbon is estimated to comprise half to two-thirds of today's total organic carbon burial flux (the remainder being derived from land plants).
“Marine-derived organic carbon is estimated to comprise half1113 to two-thirds56 of today's total organic carbon burial flux (the remainder being derived from land plants).”
From Atmospheric oxygen regulation at low Proterozoic levels by incomplete oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic carbon (2017) · cites this paper as [56]

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Authors: Burdige, D. J.
Affiliations: Old Dominion University (US)
Corresponding author: Burdige, David J.
ORCID: Burdige, David J.
Venue: Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published: 2005-10-29
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0886-6236 (ISSN-L)
1944-9224
DOI: 10.1029/2004gb002368
OpenAlex: W1937838860
Cited by: 569
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 53 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 8
FWCI: 5.03
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Global Biogeochemical Cycles (publishedVersion)
ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Keywords: terrestrial organic matter, organic matter mineralization, carbon cycle, deltaic deposits, muddy sediments, glacial-interglacial cycles, atmospheric CO2, paleoceanography

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Burial of terrestrial organic matter in marine sediments: A re‐assessment

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