Groundwater Flow Mechanisms and Related Carbon Sink Potential in Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems

Mangroves and saltmarshes are important coastal blue carbon ecosystems characterized by high soil carbon storage. Groundwater flow and associated carbon export in mangroves and saltmarshes is the frontier and challenging issue in the estimates of coastal blue carbon sinks. Large amounts of groundwater-derived sediment carbon outwelling remains in the ocean and may represent an important carbon sink, which are potentially significant yet poorly understood components of mangrove and saltmarsh carbon budgets. This study aims to how to quantify the groundwater flow and related carbon fluxes, analyze their driving mechanisms, and then reassess the carbon budget and carbon sink potential of mangroves and saltmarshes.