Fig. 3: Modelled depth profiles of various chemical species in seagrass and mangrove sediments.
From: Ocean alkalinity enhancement through restoration of blue carbon ecosystems
The depth profile is for a baseline condition with bottom seawater chemistry. a–j, The depth profiles of dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), alkalinity (ALK), pH and carbonate saturation index for seagrass and mangrove systems. Our results suggest that seagrass and mangroves influence the organic and inorganic cycling of carbon in sediment, with strong impacts on diffusive alkalinity fluxes. In carbonate-rich sediment, seagrass and mangroves foster carbonate dissolution, resulting in increased alkalinity production. Through higher rates of carbon delivery and organic matter recycling mangroves produce a larger sedimentary alkalinity pool, emphasizing their potentially important role in alkalinity-based carbon capture.
