Study on transport of particulate organic matter in river and coastal marine systems using radiocarbon

This study applies a combined use of carbon isotope composition (Δ14C and δ13C) to suspended solids in river waters and surface sediments from the river mouth, continental shelf off the coast of Japan. This study is intended to investigate the fate of terrestrial particulate organic matter that is released from the river to the coastal marine environment at three river-coastal systems. Our results indicate that the combined Δ14C and δ13C measurements of the particulate organic matter can provide unique information on the sources and age of sediments and their transport behavior. (author)