ix
2. Inclusion of not only classical blue carbon ecosystems (i.e., mangroves, seagrass
meadows, and salt marshes) but also macroalgal beds, tidal flats, coral reefs, and
shallow waters near urban areas to show the potential of these ecosystems to
serve as new carbon sinks
3. A thorough review of the literature, including many Japanese case studies, on
blue carbon studies of not only topics that are currently research foci (i.e., sedimentary carbon stocks and accumulation rates [indirect processes for reducing
atmospheric CO 2 ]) but also exchanges of CO 2 gas between the atmosphere and
SCEs (direct processes for reducing atmospheric CO 2 ), carbon storage in the
water column as refractory organic carbon, and off-site carbon storage (e.g., the
deep sea)
Table 1 Chapter highlights
Chapter 1
Introduction of blue carbon and carbon cycling (carbon storage and CO 2 gas flux)
in shallow coastal ecosystems
Chapter 2
Distribution pattern and chemical and genetic characteristics of sedimentary
organic carbon on a timescale of several thousand years and factors controlling
rates of burial in marine and seagrass sediments
Chapter 3
Global distribution of mangrove biomass, carbon stocks, and carbon burial rates
in mangroves
Chapter 4
Japan nationwide estimate of carbon sequestration potential (annual plant tissue
production) in seagrass and macroalgal beds
Chapter 5
Carbon stocks and flows in tidal flat ecosystems, especially for rates of
microalgal production and bivalve-related organic and inorganic carbon, with
special emphasis on Japanese sites
Chapter 6
Theory, methods (bulk formula, chamber, eddy-covariance), and empirical studies
of air-water CO 2 fluxes in shallow coastal waters, which are sinks for atmospheric
CO 2 .
Chapter 7
Three types of CO 2 fluxes (atmosphere-ecosystem, air-soil, air-water) in
mangrove ecosystems, with special emphasis on the Sundarban, the world’s
largest mangrove forest
Chapter 8
Three types of CO 2 fluxes (atmosphere-ecosystem, air-sediment, air-water) in
tidal flat and marsh ecosystems, with special emphasis on Japanese sites
Chapter 9
Numerical model to estimate transport of the sequestered carbon from eelgrass
beds through shallow coastal waters to the deep sea, and the process of carbon
storage both within eelgrass beds and off sites
Chapter 10
Carbon cycle (CO 2 sink/source, carbon storage, and export) in coral reefs and
interrelationships between coral reefs and other ecosystems such as seagrass
meadows and mangroves
Chapter 11
Blue carbon ecosystems, estuaries, and embayments as sinks for atmospheric
CO 2 under some biogeochemical and socio-economic conditions, e.g.,
appropriate management of wastewater treatment
Chapter 12
A social experiment conducted by Yokohama City, Japan, that served to counter
climate change and included a novel carbon offset campaign utilizing coastal
waters
Chapter 13
Summary of carbon flows and stocks in various shallow coastal ecosystems
reported in previous chapters, current status of blue carbon discussions at the
international level, and future needs for policy making and social implementation
Preface
2. Inclusion of not only classical blue carbon ecosystems (i.e., mangroves, seagrass
meadows, and salt marshes) but also macroalgal beds, tidal flats, coral reefs, and
shallow waters near urban areas to show the potential of these ecosystems to
serve as new carbon sinks
3. A thorough review of the literature, including many Japanese case studies, on
blue carbon studies of not only topics that are currently research foci (i.e., sedimentary carbon stocks and accumulation rates [indirect processes for reducing
atmospheric CO 2 ]) but also exchanges of CO 2 gas between the atmosphere and
SCEs (direct processes for reducing atmospheric CO 2 ), carbon storage in the
water column as refractory organic carbon, and off-site carbon storage (e.g., the
deep sea)
Table 1 Chapter highlights
Chapter 1
Introduction of blue carbon and carbon cycling (carbon storage and CO 2 gas flux)
in shallow coastal ecosystems
Chapter 2
Distribution pattern and chemical and genetic characteristics of sedimentary
organic carbon on a timescale of several thousand years and factors controlling
rates of burial in marine and seagrass sediments
Chapter 3
Global distribution of mangrove biomass, carbon stocks, and carbon burial rates
in mangroves
Chapter 4
Japan nationwide estimate of carbon sequestration potential (annual plant tissue
production) in seagrass and macroalgal beds
Chapter 5
Carbon stocks and flows in tidal flat ecosystems, especially for rates of
microalgal production and bivalve-related organic and inorganic carbon, with
special emphasis on Japanese sites
Chapter 6
Theory, methods (bulk formula, chamber, eddy-covariance), and empirical studies
of air-water CO 2 fluxes in shallow coastal waters, which are sinks for atmospheric
CO 2 .
Chapter 7
Three types of CO 2 fluxes (atmosphere-ecosystem, air-soil, air-water) in
mangrove ecosystems, with special emphasis on the Sundarban, the world’s
largest mangrove forest
Chapter 8
Three types of CO 2 fluxes (atmosphere-ecosystem, air-sediment, air-water) in
tidal flat and marsh ecosystems, with special emphasis on Japanese sites
Chapter 9
Numerical model to estimate transport of the sequestered carbon from eelgrass
beds through shallow coastal waters to the deep sea, and the process of carbon
storage both within eelgrass beds and off sites
Chapter 10
Carbon cycle (CO 2 sink/source, carbon storage, and export) in coral reefs and
interrelationships between coral reefs and other ecosystems such as seagrass
meadows and mangroves
Chapter 11
Blue carbon ecosystems, estuaries, and embayments as sinks for atmospheric
CO 2 under some biogeochemical and socio-economic conditions, e.g.,
appropriate management of wastewater treatment
Chapter 12
A social experiment conducted by Yokohama City, Japan, that served to counter
climate change and included a novel carbon offset campaign utilizing coastal
waters
Chapter 13
Summary of carbon flows and stocks in various shallow coastal ecosystems
reported in previous chapters, current status of blue carbon discussions at the
international level, and future needs for policy making and social implementation
Preface