Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (5): 1-11.doi: 10.11978/2024223CSTR: 32234.14.2024223

• Review •     Next Articles

Research advances on organic carbon distribution and storage potential of sediments in the Chinese marginal seas

XU Weihai1,2(), ZHONG Qiuyan1,3, YAN Wen1,3(), LI Gang1   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. Sanya Institute of Marine Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572000, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2024-11-27 Revised:2025-02-17 Online:2025-09-10 Published:2025-10-14
  • Contact: XU Weihai, YAN Wen
  • Supported by:
    Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(422CXTD533); National Natural Science Foundation of China(42376079)

Abstract:

Carbon participates in the global carbon cycle in various forms in the ocean, with total organic carbon (TOC) buried in marine sediments playing a crucial role. As a transition zone characterized by high physical energy and productivity, marginal seas store more than 80% of the organic carbon in the global ocean. Covering a total area of about 4.7 million square kilometers, China’s marginal seas possess significant carbon storage capacity and potential. With the implementation of China’s “Dual Carbon” initiative, research on marine carbon storage has become a prominent topic in recent years. This review summarizes the distribution characteristics of organic carbon in the sediments of China’s marginal seas, revealing a decreasing tendency from the Bohai Sea to the South China Sea. Notably, organic carbon content in coastal waters and near estuaries is significantly higher than in the deep sea. In addition, the main sources, influencing factors, and storage potential of organic carbon are analyzed. Moreover, the review provides an outlook on potential future research directions, aiming to offer insights for the related work on marine carbon storage and the carbon cycle in China’s marginal seas.

Key words: marginal seas, total organic carbon, rivers, currents, carbon storage potential

CLC Number: 

  • P744.9