265
satellite data by the average value of the eelgrass cover ratio (dense eelgrass bed:
93%; sparse eelgrass bed: 47%) (Hori et al. 2012). The amounts of drifting leaves
and suspended particles discharged from eelgrass beds were configured based on
the results of the field survey (Tarutani et al. 2014), and the outflow was assumed to
occur between June and December (Fig. 9.12).
9.5.2 Fate of Eelgrass-Derived Organic Matter That Flowed
Out of Eelgrass Beds
The advection, diffusion, decomposition, and sedimentation of drifting leaves and
eelgrass-derived suspended organic matter from eelgrass beds were calculated by
the model and their fates were traced. The calculation period was from 1 May 2011
to 31 December 2012, a period for which field observation results were available.
The purpose of the calculation was to estimate the decomposition and deposition
amounts of the discharged eelgrass-derived organic carbon in a 1-year period.
Referencing the outflow period of eelgrass (Fig. 9.12), the fate of the leaves and
suspended particles discharged from July to December 2011 were traced. For the
next year’s calculation, from 1 January 2012 until 31 December 2012, the outflow
conditions from the 1-year period were not considered.
Fluctuations in the eelgrass-derived organic carbon calculated by the model are
shown in Fig. 9.13. The figure shows the time series of the content of each form
(drifting leave, suspended particle, DIC, and marine sediment) and the total carbon
amount existing in the Seto Inland Sea. The leave carbon content was highest in
September 2011, and the total carbon content peaked in November. Thereafter, they
decreased because the leaves became suspended particles and DIC due to fragmentation and decomposition and flowed out of the Seto Inland Sea. Then, the leave
carbon content almost reached zero in January 2012, and the total carbon content
continued to decrease moderately. In contrast, the DIC reached a maximum in
January 2012, and organic carbon in the sediments peaked in February, then they
Fig. 9.12 Time series of
leaves and particulate
organic carbon (POC) that
flow out of eelgrass beds
(setting value for the
model)
9 Quantifying the Fate of Captured Carbon: From Seagrass Meadows to the Deep Sea
satellite data by the average value of the eelgrass cover ratio (dense eelgrass bed:
93%; sparse eelgrass bed: 47%) (Hori et al. 2012). The amounts of drifting leaves
and suspended particles discharged from eelgrass beds were configured based on
the results of the field survey (Tarutani et al. 2014), and the outflow was assumed to
occur between June and December (Fig. 9.12).
9.5.2 Fate of Eelgrass-Derived Organic Matter That Flowed
Out of Eelgrass Beds
The advection, diffusion, decomposition, and sedimentation of drifting leaves and
eelgrass-derived suspended organic matter from eelgrass beds were calculated by
the model and their fates were traced. The calculation period was from 1 May 2011
to 31 December 2012, a period for which field observation results were available.
The purpose of the calculation was to estimate the decomposition and deposition
amounts of the discharged eelgrass-derived organic carbon in a 1-year period.
Referencing the outflow period of eelgrass (Fig. 9.12), the fate of the leaves and
suspended particles discharged from July to December 2011 were traced. For the
next year’s calculation, from 1 January 2012 until 31 December 2012, the outflow
conditions from the 1-year period were not considered.
Fluctuations in the eelgrass-derived organic carbon calculated by the model are
shown in Fig. 9.13. The figure shows the time series of the content of each form
(drifting leave, suspended particle, DIC, and marine sediment) and the total carbon
amount existing in the Seto Inland Sea. The leave carbon content was highest in
September 2011, and the total carbon content peaked in November. Thereafter, they
decreased because the leaves became suspended particles and DIC due to fragmentation and decomposition and flowed out of the Seto Inland Sea. Then, the leave
carbon content almost reached zero in January 2012, and the total carbon content
continued to decrease moderately. In contrast, the DIC reached a maximum in
January 2012, and organic carbon in the sediments peaked in February, then they
Fig. 9.12 Time series of
leaves and particulate
organic carbon (POC) that
flow out of eelgrass beds
(setting value for the
model)
9 Quantifying the Fate of Captured Carbon: From Seagrass Meadows to the Deep Sea