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Removal of dissolved organic carbon in the West Pacific hadal zones

Author

Listed:
  • Mengfan Chu

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center)

  • Rui Bao

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center)

  • Michael Strasser

    (Institute of Geology)

  • Ken Ikehara

    (Institute of Geology and Geoinformation)

  • Yang Ding

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Kejian Liu

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Mingzhi Liu

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Li Xu

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Yonghong Wang

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Piero Bellanova

    (RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Neotectonics and Natural Hazards & Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal)

  • Troy Rasbury

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Martin Kölling

    (University of Bremen)

  • Natascha Riedinger

    (Oklahoma State University)

  • Min Luo

    (Shanghai Ocean University)

  • Christian März

    (University of Leeds
    University of Bonn)

  • Kana Jitsuno

    (Waseda University)

  • Zhirong Cai

    (Kyoto University)

  • Cecilia McHugh

    (Queens College, City University of New York, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences)

  • Ellen Druffel

    (University of California)

Abstract

The deep oceans are environments of complex carbon dynamics that have the potential to significantly impact the global carbon cycle. However, the role of hadal zones, particularly hadal trenches (water depth > 6 km), in the oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) cycle is not thoroughly investigated. Here we report distinct DOC signatures in the Japan Trench bottom water. We find that up to 34% ± 7% of the DOC in the trench bottom is removed during the northeastward transport of dissolved carbon along the trench axis. This DOC removal increases the overall DOC recalcitrance of the deep Pacific DOC pool, and is potentially enhanced by the earthquake-triggered physical and biogeochemical processes in the hadal trenches. Radiocarbon analysis on representative oceanic transects further reveals that the Pacific deep-water DOC undergoes distinct removal compared to those in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans along the thermohaline transport. Our findings highlight hadal trenches as previously unrecognized DOC sinks in the deep ocean system, with varying dynamics that warrant further investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengfan Chu & Rui Bao & Michael Strasser & Ken Ikehara & Yang Ding & Kejian Liu & Mingzhi Liu & Li Xu & Yonghong Wang & Piero Bellanova & Troy Rasbury & Martin Kölling & Natascha Riedinger & Min Luo &, 2025. "Removal of dissolved organic carbon in the West Pacific hadal zones," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-55883-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55883-1
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