Geochemical characteristics and source of organic carbon and nitrogen in the column sediments from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

The geochemical characteristics of organic carbon and nitrogen in the Antarctic marine sediments are of great significance to the study of the global carbon cycle and marine ecological environment. In this paper, the geochemical characteristics of organic carbon and nitrogen in sediments of Core RBA08C collected from the Ross Sea, Antarctica were discussed. TOC content at the top 0~12cm shows a decreasing trend with depth, and the TOC below the core depth of 12cm remains relatively stable. The content of TN was totally the same as that of TOC, and the positive correlation between the two probably indicate that they came from same source. The TOC/TN ratio and δ¹³C values reveal that the organic matters and its change in content should be collectively controlled by upper water productivity, deposition rate and redox environment and mainly from the marine biogenic deposition. The TOC burial rate of the Core RBA08C is about 50%, the same as that of the Core IS-4 at the edge of the Emory Ice Shelf, Prydz Bay. Coupled with the similar contents and change trend of TOC and TN, it suggest that their deposition rates are similar.