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Tropical-cyclone-driven erosion of the terrestrial biosphere from mountains

Abstract

The transfer of organic carbon from the terrestrial biosphere to the oceans via erosion and riverine transport constitutes an important component of the global carbon cycle1,2,3,4. More than one third of this organic carbon flux comes from sediment-laden rivers that drain the mountains in the western Pacific region3,5. This region is prone to tropical cyclones, but their role in sourcing and transferring vegetation and soil is not well constrained. Here we measure particulate organic carbon load and composition in the LiWu River, Taiwan, during cyclone-triggered floods. We correct for fossil particulate organic carbon using radiocarbon, and find that the concentration of particulate organic carbon from vegetation and soils is positively correlated with water discharge. Floods have been shown to carry large amounts of clastic sediment6. Non-fossil particulate organic carbon transported at the same time may be buried offshore under high rates of sediment accumulation7,8,9. We estimate that on decadal timescales, 77–92% of non-fossil particulate organic carbon eroded from the LiWu catchment is transported during large, cyclone-induced floods. We suggest that tropical cyclones, which affect many forested mountains within the Intertropical Convergence Zone10, may provide optimum conditions for the delivery and burial of non-fossil particulate organic carbon in the ocean. This carbon transfer is moderated by the frequency, intensity and duration of tropical cyclones.

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Figure 1: Source and concentration of riverine POC during typhoon floods in 2004.
Figure 2: Positive, nonlinear relationships between non-fossil POC concentration (POCmod mg l−1) and water discharge (Qw m3 s−1).
Figure 3: Cumulative discharge, suspended sediment and non-fossil POC transfer versus return time of a given flow.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the UK Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) and The Cambridge Trusts. Radiocarbon analyses were carried out on NERC allocation numbers 1203.1006 and 1228.0407. We thank Taroko National Park for access to research sites.

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R.G.H., A.G. and N.H. wrote the manuscript. M.C.C. collected the suspended load samples and R.G.H. and A.G collected soil samples. M.J.H. and H.C. provided hydrological data.

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Correspondence to Robert G. Hilton.

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Hilton, R., Galy, A., Hovius, N. et al. Tropical-cyclone-driven erosion of the terrestrial biosphere from mountains. Nature Geosci 1, 759–762 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo333

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