Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Pump in Methane-Charged Shallow Marine Sediments: State of the Art and New Model Perspectives

Methane transport from subsurface reservoirs to shallow marine sediment is characterized by unique biogeochemical interactions significant for ocean chemistry. Sulfate-Methane Transition Zone (SMTZ) is an important diagenetic front in the sediment column that quantitatively consumes the diffusive methane fluxes from deep methanogenic sources toward shallow marine sediments via sulfate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Recent global compilation from diffusion-controlled marine settings suggests methane from below and sulfate from above fluxing into the SMTZ at an estimated rate of 3.8 and 5.3 Tmol year^–1, respectively, and wider estimate for methane flux ranges from 1 to 19 Tmol year^–1. AOM converts the methane carbon to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) at the SMTZ. Organoclastic sulfate reduction (OSR) and deep-DIC fluxes from methanogenic zones contribute additional DIC to the shallow sediments. Here, we provide a quantification of 8.7 Tmol year^–1 DIC entering the methane-charged shallow sediments due to AOM, OSR, and the deep-DIC flux (range 6.4–10.2 Tmol year^–1). Of this total DIC pool, an estimated 6.5 Tmol year^–1 flows toward the water column (range: 3.2–9.2 Tmol year^–1), and 1.7 Tmol year^–1 enters the authigenic carbonate phases (range: 0.6–3.6 Tmol year^–1). This summary highlights that carbonate authigenesis in settings dominated by diffusive methane fluxes is a significant component of marine carbon burial, comparable to ∼15% of carbonate accumulation on continental shelves and in the abyssal ocean, respectively. Further, the DIC outflux through the SMTZ is comparable to ∼20% of global riverine DIC flux to oceans. This DIC outflux will contribute alkalinity or CO₂ in different proportions to the water column, depending on the rates of authigenic carbonate precipitation and sulfide oxidation and will significantly impact ocean chemistry and potentially atmospheric CO₂. Settings with substantial carbonate precipitation and sulfide oxidation at present are contributing CO₂ and thus to ocean acidification. Our synthesis emphasizes the importance of SMTZ as not only a methane sink but also an important diagenetic front for global DIC cycling. We further underscore the need to incorporate a DIC pump in methane-charged shallow marine sediments to models for coastal and geologic carbon cycling.

Introduction

Methane (CH₄) is an important greenhouse gas with a significant role in the geological evolution of Earth’s carbon cycle and ongoing climate change. Compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane has ∼28 times higher warming potential (Stocker et al., 2014), and marine methane reservoirs constitute a large exchangeable carbon pool in the Earth’s shallow subsurface, which is significant for carbon cycle dynamics (Kvenvolden, 2002). Continental margins are characterized by methane flux sites that involve transfer in dissolved and gaseous forms via diffusion and advection from subsurface reservoirs to the seafloor. Methane transport toward the seafloor creates a characteristic chemosynthetic ecosystem based on benthic microbial interactions and highly interconnected carbon cycling coupled with other elements such as sulfur, iron, calcium, and trace metals (Suess, 2010). They are thus sites of unique geosphere-biosphere coupling that plays a significant role in the chemical and biological composition of the oceans, as well as the global carbon cycle (Judd and Hovland, 2009; Boetius and Wenzhöfer, 2013; Levin et al., 2016; Suess, 2018).

Some abrupt climate change events in paleoclimate records are potentially linked to massive dissociation of subsurface methane reservoirs into the oceans and atmosphere (e.g., Dickens et al., 1995; Hesselbo et al., 2000; Jiang et al., 2003). On the contemporaneous Earth, marine methane fluxes are effectively prevented from entering the atmosphere by microbial interactions in shallow sediments and water columns (Boetius and Wenzhöfer, 2013; Ruppel and Kessler, 2017). These processes convert methane carbon to inorganic and organic carbon pool (Figure 1) and prevent the direct impact of methane on the climate system (Reeburgh, 2007). However, the fate of this methane-derived carbon pool is overlooked and could be relevant to oceanic carbon cycling (Dickens, 2003; Coffin et al., 2014; Aleksandra and Katarzyna, 2018). Here we quantify methane-derived carbon cycling in shallow marine sediments in settings characterized by diffusive methane fluxes. We do this by assessing the transformation of methane carbon to inorganic and organic carbon pools (Figure 1) with the goal to assess its contribution to global oceanic carbon budgets. We emphasize settings dominated by diffusive rather than advective methane transport because of relatively well-constrained porewater data availability for global diffusive fluxes of methane and sulfate.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. A simplified representation of DIC cycling at diffusion-controlled marine settings. Figure 4 provides DIC flux estimates. Refer to section “Calculations” for descriptions of flux parameters.

Sulfate-Methane Transition Zones and Associated Carbon Cycling

Sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) is an important diagenetic front where the upward flux of methane encounters downward diffusive sulfate flux and undergoes sulfate-driven anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) (Reeburgh, 1976; Borowski et al., 1996; Malinverno and Pohlman, 2011). During AOM, both methane and sulfate are consumed, and hydrogen sulfide (as HS^–) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) present mostly as bicarbonate (HCO₃^–) are produced (Boetius et al., 2000; Orphan et al., 2001). The net reaction can be expressed as:

$${\text{CH}}_4+{\text{SO}}_4^{2-}\to {\text{HCO}}_3^{-}+{\mathrm{HS}}^{-}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\text{O}(1)$$

Anaerobic methane oxidation in shallow sediment effectively consumes the methane diffusion in marine sediments (Reeburgh, 2007; Knittel and Boetius, 2009). A recent compilation by Egger et al. (2018) from 740 sites of wide oceanographic settings suggests that 2.8–3.8 Tmol CH₄ undergoes sulfate-driven AOM annually. This range was higher than the average ∼1 Tmol CH₄ year^–1 proposed by Wallmann et al. (2012), closer to 3–5.2 Tmol CH₄ year^–1 estimated by Henrichs and Reeburgh (1987), and much lower than the estimated 19 Tmol CH₄ year^–1 by Hinrichs and Boetius (2002).

Here we highlight that SMTZ is not only important as a methane sink but also for DIC cycling in methane-charged shallow sediments. We do this by quantifying the sources and sinks of DIC cycling associated with the SMTZ at diffusive flux settings (Figure 1).

DIC Sources at SMTZ

The SMTZ often contains higher DIC concentrations that can be accounted for AOM (Figure 2). Organoclastic sulfate reduction (OSR, Eq. 2) and deep-DIC flux from methanogenic zones are the primary sources of this excess DIC (Chatterjee et al., 2011).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Schematic concentration (based on measured and modeled) profiles for CH₄, SO₄^2–, and DIC, at diffusive methane flux setting. Arrows indicate flux direction. SRZ indicates the sulfate reduction zone with dominant organoclastic sulfate reduction (OSR). The DIC concentration at the SMTZ is the result of AOM, OSR, deep-DIC input, and authigenic carbonate precipitation. Modified based on data from Snyder et al. (2007, Japan Sea), Malinverno and Pohlman (2011, IODP Site U1325, Cascadia Margin), Chatterjee et al. (2011, ODP Site 1244, Hydrate Ridge), and Wehrmann et al. (2011, IODP Site 1345, Bering Sea).

$$2{\text{CH}}_2\text{O}+{\text{SO}}_4^{2-}\to {\text{H}}_2\text{S}+2{\text{HCO}}_3^{-}(2)$$

The SMTZ depth is largely controlled by the upward flux of methane (Borowski et al., 1996) as well as the rate of organic matter degradation, which then controls rates of OSR and methanogenesis (Meister et al., 2013). In diffusive settings, OSR and AOM consume the sulfate at the SMTZ supported by organic matter buried into the SMTZ as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that is produced below the SMTZ and migrates upward (Berelson et al., 2005; Komada et al., 2016; Jørgensen et al., 2019a). An estimated 11–80 Tmol year^–1 of SO₄^2– is reduced globally in marine sediments (Jørgensen and Kasten, 2006; Thullner et al., 2009; Bowles et al., 2014). Egger et al. (2018) suggested that 5.3 Tmol year^–1 of this global marine SO₄^2– reduction occurs at sites where methane transport occurs through diffusion.

A global estimate for methane and sulfate fluxing to the SMTZ in diffusive settings yielded an average ratio (CH₄:SO₄^2–) of 1:1.4 (Egger et al., 2018). A combined effect of AOM and OSR (Berelson et al., 2005; Kastner et al., 2008; Komada et al., 2016; Jørgensen et al., 2019b), as well as cryptic C-S cycling within SMTZ (due to concurrent production and consumption of methane), have been suggested to be causing this higher sulfate flux relative to methane flux (Borowski et al., 1997; Hong et al., 2013, 2014; Beulig et al., 2019).

In addition to AOM and OSR, deep-DIC fluxing from methanogenic depths provides another important source for DIC through the SMTZ (Dickens and Snyder, 2009; Solomon et al., 2014). Methanogenesis in deeper sediment can produce DIC in the form of CO₂ which can be summarized as Eq. 3 (Meister et al., 2019b):

$$2{\text{CH}}_2\text{O}\stackrel{+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}{⟶}2\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2+4{\mathrm{H}}_2\stackrel{-{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}{⟶}{\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{CH}}_4(3)$$

This CO₂ would dissociate to HCO₃^– and H⁺, causing a pH decrease. This step, in turn, would favor weathering of silicate minerals in marine sediments (Marine Silicate Weathering-MSiW), resulting in alkalinity production and pH buffering (Aloisi et al., 2004; Wallmann et al., 2008; Solomon et al., 2014; Kim et al., 2016; Wehrmann et al., 2016, Eq. 4).

$$\mathrm{Cation}\text{-}\mathrm{rich}\text{silicate}+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\to \mathrm{Cation}\text{-}\mathrm{depleted}\text{silicates}$$

$$+{\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}+\mathrm{Cations}(4)$$

As a result of MSiW, methanogenic DIC enters the SMTZ as alkalinity instead of CO₂ (Wallmann et al., 2008). Additional deep-DIC could enter the methanogenic zone and shallow sediments due to fluid expulsion from greater depths [e.g., continental crust alteration (Meister et al., 2011)].

Fate of the DIC Entering SMTZ

Fate of the DIC pool entering the SMTZ primarily involves precipitation as authigenic carbonate minerals, autotrophic microbial consumption, and transport toward the water column. AOM, OSR, and deep-DIC flux will increase the DIC concentration and carbonate alkalinity of pore fluids at SMTZ (Chatterjee et al., 2011; Yoshinaga et al., 2014). Higher carbonate alkalinity, in turn, will stimulate authigenic carbonate precipitation at SMTZ (Aloisi et al., 2002; Orphan et al., 2004; Naehr et al., 2007; Feng et al., 2010; Crémière et al., 2012; Prouty et al., 2016) via the following reaction (Baker and Burns, 1985):

$$2{\text{HCO}}_3^{-}+{\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\to {\text{CaCO}}_3+{\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}(5)$$

A small portion of total DIC from SMTZ will be assimilated into biomass by autotrophic microbes and eventually become part of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC; Sivan et al., 2007; Ussler and Paull, 2008). The remaining DIC enters overlying sediment and eventually the water column if it is not involved in diagenesis on the way.

Calculations

The flux of DIC to the water column from methane charged sediments F_(DIC–out), can be represented by Eqs 6 and 7, respectively.

$${\text{Total}}_{(\text{DIC})}={\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{AOM})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{OSR})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{deep})}(6)$$

$${\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-0\text{ut})}=({\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{AOM})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{OSR})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{deep})})-({\text{F}}_{(\text{carb})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{SOC})})(7)$$

As discussed below, Total_(DIC) represents the ratio of DIC from AOM, OSR, and deep flux to methane entering the SMTZ. F_(DIC–AOM), F_(DIC–OSR), and F_(DIC–deep) represent the DIC input to Total_(DIC) via AOM, OSR, and deep flux, respectively. F_(DIC–OSR) considers the depth-integrated DIC pool via OSR, which includes the SMTZ and sulfate reduction zone (SRZ) above. F_(Carb), F_(SOC), and F_(DIC–out) represent the DIC output from Total_(DIC) via authigenic carbonate precipitation, microbial uptake to SOC, and DIC outflux toward the water column, respectively (Figure 1). Net DIC fluxes from the sediment in methane-charged shallow sediments depend on the rates of these parameters. We would also like to mention that DIC cycling in shallow marine sediments, in general, can be influenced by processes not directly related to methane cycling like carbonate dissolution, organic matter degradation using electron acceptors other than sulfate, as well as submarine groundwater discharge (e.g., Berelson et al., 2007; Higgins et al., 2009; Moore, 2010; Hu and Cai, 2011; Aleksandra and Katarzyna, 2018). However, we focus our attention on diffusive methane charged settings and hence to the parameters in Eqs 6 and 7 for our DIC calculations, with an emphasis on their importance in marine DIC budgets.

Estimations of Parameter Values

F_(DIC–AOM) and F_(DIC–OSR)

Modeling studies have shown that the methane flux at fluid advection rates of up to 60 cm year^–1 is almost completely consumed within shallow sediments (Luff and Wallmann, 2003; Luff et al., 2004), primarily via AOM. Hence, AOM efficiency would be lower in advective settings and higher in diffusive settings. As we focus on diffusive settings in this study, a 100% AOM efficiency is used for our budget calculation. Thus, for a 1:1.4 ratio of CH₄:SO₄^2– fluxing toward the SMTZ as a global average in diffusive settings (Egger et al., 2018), AOM accounts for 1 mol (70%) and OSR accounts for 0.4 mol (30%) of total SO₄^2– consumption.

F_(DIC–deep)

Deep-DIC flux to the SMTZ is prevalent in diffusive methane flux settings (e.g., Aloisi et al., 2004; Wallmann et al., 2008; Dickens and Snyder, 2009; Chatterjee et al., 2011; Scholz et al., 2013; Solomon et al., 2014). However, the global trend of this deep-DIC flux is not well established. If methane from deep below is biogenic, F_(DIC–deep) should be 100% of the CH₄ flux. As a result of MSiW, methanogenic DIC contributes as alkalinity, and silicate-bond cations are released (Wallmann et al., 2008; Solomon et al., 2014; Pierre et al., 2016), resulting in deep-DIC sequestration via carbonate precipitation within methanogenic zones (Torres et al., 2020). Additional deep-DIC sinks coupled to Fe/Mn reduction in the methanogenic zones was proposed by Solomon et al. (2014) and available literature reports also show a lower deep-DIC flux rate (Dickens and Snyder, 2009; Chatterjee et al., 2011; Wehrmann et al., 2011; Komada et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2019). Hence, we assume a conservative estimate of 50% of CH₄ flux to our budget as the average F_(DIC–deep).

F_carb

Reported average DIC uptake by authigenic carbonates from the total DIC pool at the SMTZ varies from 7–36% (Luff and Wallmann, 2003; Snyder et al., 2007; Wallmann et al., 2008; Hong et al., 2013; Coffin et al., 2014; Komada et al., 2016; Chuang et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019), with upper estimates ranging up to 50% (Smith and Coffin, 2014). However, it is important to note that authigenic carbonates may not precipitate at all methane flux settings. Events of high-intensity fluxes (Karaca et al., 2010; Coffin et al., 2014), fluid flux with low dissolved methane concentrations, settings with intense bioturbation or high sedimentation rates (Luff et al., 2004; Bayon et al., 2007) can inhibit carbonate precipitation. Furthermore, dissolution of authigenic carbonates can occur under multiple conditions, including when aerobic methanotrophy produces CO₂, when sulfide oxidation produces acid, which is corrosive (Matsumoto, 1990; Himmler et al., 2011); CO₂ produced from methanogenesis (Meister et al., 2011); and due to CO₂ produced in thermogenic gas seeps (Kinnaman et al., 2010)—among other drivers of dissolution. Rates of authigenic carbonate dissolution at diffusive methane flux sites are not well known. In our calculations, we assume a conservative estimate of 20% for F_Carb as an average, considering the still-limited global perspective. This value is comparable to the recent estimates of Zhang et al. (2019, 20%) and Komada et al. (2016, 25%), who treated all three parameters in Eq. 6 as Total_(DIC).

F_soc

In exceptional cases, up to 85% incorporation of AOM induced DIC has been reported for the SOC pool (Coffin et al., 2015). However, in general, the production of new microbial biomass in anoxic sediments based on AOM is negligible due to low growth yield and accounts for only 1–3% of the methane consumption (Nauhaus et al., 2007; Treude et al., 2007). Hence the bulk SOC pool often does not represent the new biomass and the DOC produced via AOM (Ussler and Paull, 2008; Coffin et al., 2014). Modeling studies have shown that AOM is the dominant process at SOC values <5% (Sivan et al., 2007). Hence, we use an F_SOC = 5% as an average estimate for DIC conversion to organic carbon at the SMTZ in our calculation.

F_(DIC–out)

With a portion of Total_(DIC) going to authigenic carbonate and SOC, the remaining DIC from Total_(DIC) (averaging 75% based on a F_carb = 20 and F_SOC = 5%) enters the overlying sediment and eventually the water column if it is not involved in diagenesis on the way. This DIC flux can, in turn, and significantly impact ocean chemistry.

It is also important to mention that methane fluxes are highly variable in time, resulting in upward and downward movement of the SMTZ (e.g., Malone et al., 2002; Meister et al., 2007, 2019a; Contreras et al., 2013; Meister, 2015). Such dynamic conditions could lead to strong variations in the parameters discussed above and the net DIC sinks and sources. Hence, we consider an extended range of these parameters in Table 1 to address the flux variability. This approach also considers the still-limited global perspective of these parameters.

TABLE 1

Table 1. Parameters controlling the DIC fluxes at SMTZ, with their average and extended range considered in carbon flux calculation.

DIC Production via AOM and OSR

We assume global average DIC production at SMTZ as suggested by Egger et al. (2018) along with their average CH₄:SO₄^2– fluxes to SMTZ of 1:1.4. This approach assumes quantitative methane consumption at SMTZ. AOM produces 1 mole of DIC for every mole of SO₄^2– consumed. OSR, on the other hand, would produce 2 moles of DIC for every mole of SO₄^2– consumed (Eqs 1 and 2). For a global average CH₄:SO₄^2– flux to the SMTZ of 1:1.4, 1.8 moles of DIC will be produced by sulfate reduction via AOM and OSR—that is, of the total 1.4 moles of SO₄^2– entering SMTZ, 1 mole DIC will be produced by 1 mole SO₄^2– reduction via AOM, and the remaining 0.4 moles of SO₄^2– yields 0.8 moles DIC via OSR. Thus, the SO₄^2–: DIC ratio from a CH₄: SO₄^2– flux ratio of 1:1.4 at the SMTZ will be 1.4:1.8 or 1:1.3 (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Plots for SO₄^2–: DIC ratio for AOM and OSR. Black slopes indicate AOM (1:1) and OSR (1:2). The blue slope indicates SO₄^2–: DIC plot calculated from 740 diffusion-controlled marine methane flux sites globally by Egger et al. (2018), with SO₄^2– flux data from 509 sites. CH₄ concentrations were adjusted using a 1:1.4 flux ratio for CH₄: SO₄^2– and the combined effect of AOM and OSR results in a SO₄^2–: DIC ratio ∼1:1.3.

Total DIC Through the SMTZ

Considering an average F_(DIC–deep) of 50% of the CH₄ flux, Total_(DIC) through the SMTZ for a CH₄: SO₄^2– flux ratio of 1:1.4 can be given as:

$$\begin{array}{ll}{\text{Total}}_{(\text{DIC})}\hfill & ={\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{AOM})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{OSR})}+{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{deep})}\hfill \\ \hfill & =1+0.8+0.5\hfill \\ \hfill & =2.3\text{moles}.\hfill \end{array}$$

Of this Total_(DIC), an estimated DIC outflow toward the water column can be calculated using an average estimate of F_Carb = 20 and F_SOC = 5 as:

$$\begin{array}{ll}{\text{F}}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{out})}\hfill & ={\text{Total}}_{(\text{DIC})}-({\text{F}}_{\text{Carb}}+{\text{F}}_{\text{SOC}})\hfill \\ \hfill & =2.3-(0.20\times 2.3+0.05\times 2.3)\hfill \\ \hfill & =1.73\text{moles}.\hfill \end{array}$$

Thus, on average, for every mole of CH₄ entering the SMTZ in diffusive setting, ∼0.5 moles of DIC precipitates as authigenic carbonate and ∼1.7 moles of DIC flow upward from the SMTZ toward the seafloor and water column.

Global Estimate

A global estimate of DIC cycling in diffusive methane-charged shallow sediments is derived using the recent compilation of global diffusive methane and sulfate fluxes into the SMTZ in marine settings from 740 sites by Egger et al. (2018, Tables 2–4).

TABLE 2

Table 2. Global estimate of diffusive CH₄ and SO₄^2– flux based on 1:1.4 ratio, and average SMTZ depth compiled from 740 sites (Egger et al., 2018).

TABLE 3

Table 3. Average values for parameters in Table 2, for a global CH₄ flux of 3.8 Tmol year^–1 and SO₄^2– flux of 5.3 Tmol year^–1.

TABLE 4

Table 4. Range of DIC flux values based on variable ranges of DIC flux parameters in Table 1 details in the Supplementary Data.

Synthesis

We highlight the major DIC fluxes through the SMTZ in methane-charged shallow marine sediments under diffusion-controlled settings with the following estimated values (Figure 4):

FIGURE 4

Figure 4. Sources and sinks of DIC through the SMTZ in methane-charged shallow sediments. The numbers in bold indicate flux values in Tmol year^{– 1}. Numbers in the parentheses indicate the flux values with an extended range of parameters considered in Table 1. Size of the arrows indicates relative DIC flux contribution.

a. 8.7 Tmol year^–1 DIC input [Total_(DIC)] due to AOM, OSR, and deep-DIC flux (range: 6.4–10.2 Tmol year^–1) enters the shallow sediments.

b. 6.5 Tmol year^–1 DIC outflux F_(DIC–out) toward the seafloor and water column (range 3.2–9.2 Tmol year^–1).

c. 1.7 Tmol year^–1 DIC sink via authigenic carbonate precipitation (F_carb) (range: 0.6–3.6 Tmol year^–1).

d. 0.4 Tmol year^–1 DIC enters the SOC pool due to microbial uptake (F_SOC) (range 0.1–1 Tmol year^–1).

We would like to point out that our model curve is determined from current turnover rates and methane fluxes would vary strongly over time. While data necessary to constrain the temporal variability of fluxes is not available, we acknowledge this limitation. Consideration of an extended range for all the parameters we used in our DIC budget aims to address this dynamic nature of methane fluxes. Furthermore, it is also important to note that present estimates on global marine methane fluxes are heavily dependent on data from continental margins. Methane venting in the deep sea remains to a great part unexplored (e.g., Boetius and Wenzhöfer, 2013). The uncertainty on global marine methane flux estimates is expected to narrow down in the coming decade with rapidly improving mapping efforts and long-term flux monitoring programs. We also emphasize that we based our DIC flux estimates on the pore fluid data compiled by Egger et al. (2018), due to an extensive geochemical database it considers (740 global sites from a wide range of oceanographic settings). Calculations based on the other estimates, ∼1.2 Tmol CH₄ year^–1 by Wallmann et al. (2012) and 19 Tmol CH₄ year^–1 by Hinrichs and Boetius (2002) would provide much wider flux range (Supplementary Table 3).

Importance of Methane Derived Authigenic Carbonate Precipitation

Methane-derived authigenic carbonate precipitation in diffusive settings averaging 1.7 Tmol year^–1 (range: 0.6–3.6 Tmol year^–1) is close to the 1 Tmol year^–1 estimated by Sun and Turchyn (2014) and 1.5 Tmol year^–1 suggested by Wallmann et al. (2008), for a methane flux estimate of 5 Tmol year^–1). Our estimated average corresponds to 11–15% of 11–15 Tmol year^–1 carbonate accumulation estimated for continental shelf sediments and 15% of ∼11 Tmol year^–1 in pelagic oceans (Milliman, 1993; Archer, 1996; Milliman and Droxler, 1996; Iglesias-Rodriguez et al., 2002; Schneider et al., 2006; Wallmann and Aloisi, 2012).

However, this estimate is an order of magnitude higher than the recently suggested estimate of 0.14 Tmol year^–1 by Bradbury and Turchyn (2019). Multiple factors could be responsible for this mismatch. Previous estimates for global carbonate authigenesis were based primarily on the Ca²⁺ flux into sediments from the overlying water column and do not account for Ca²⁺ fluxes toward shallow sediment from deep methanogenic zones due to MSiW (Longman et al., 2019). Further, a higher authigenic carbonate sink is expected when Mg²⁺ fluxes into shallow marine sediments are also considered along with the Ca²⁺ fluxes (Berg, 2018; Berg et al., 2019). Moreover, the CH₄ and SO₄^2– flux data used in this study from the compilation by Egger et al. (2018) covers a higher number of diffusive methane flux locations from IODP and non-IODP expeditions than those used by Sun and Turchyn (2014) and Bradbury and Turchyn (2019), which were based solely on the ODP/IODP database. Estimates of global methane flux-related processes based exclusively on the ODP/IODP dataset have important limitations. So far, only a handful of ODP/IODP expeditions (e.g., 146, 164, 204, X311, and X341S) were dedicated to methane/gas hydrate research. Further, to the best of our knowledge, ∼33 drill sites have shown SMTZ depths below 10 mbsf. The data compilation used here from Egger et al. (2018) includes data from 323 non-IODP sediment cores (coring sites) globally with ∼290 sites with an SMTZ depth of <10 mbsf, and the remaining sites have an SMTZ depth of <20 mbsf. Many of the past ODP/IODP sites do not have pore fluid measurements from the top 1 mbsf whereas the data from non-IODP sediment cores focused on diffusive methane flux sites shows ∼100 global sites with an SMTZ less than 1 mbsf. Thus, the drilling-based dataset grossly underestimates DIC entering the SMTZs in coastal settings, which in turn constitutes ∼65% of global diffusive methane flux. Hence, the combination of IODP and non-IODP sediment core data used here, based on Egger et al. (2018), can provide better constraints to the global DIC cycling at diffusive methane flux settings.

Recently, it was postulated that carbonate cap rocks sealing the majority of hydrocarbon systems could be formed via AOM (Caesar et al., 2019). Further, carbonate authigenesis is suggested to be more dominant in slope settings, especially during the periods of widespread anoxia in geologic history, because of the prevalent anaerobic respiration in comparison to margins (Higgins et al., 2009; Schrag et al., 2013). These studies suggest large unexplored authigenic carbonate deposits that account for thousands of Gt C sequestration over millions of years. Authigenic carbonates formed below SMTZ in methanogenic zones (Ca[Fe,Mg,Mn,Ba]CO₃) with distinctly enriched δ¹³C (>5‰) are well known (e.g., Rodriguez et al., 2000; Naehr et al., 2007; Meister et al., 2011; Solomon et al., 2014; Teichert et al., 2014; Pierre et al., 2016; Phillips et al., 2018; Torres et al., 2020). If we assume 20–50% of the DIC from methanogenic zones is sequestered as authigenic carbonate below the SMTZ, net methane-induced authigenic carbonate precipitation at the SMTZ and in the methanogenic depths below would be 2.5–3.6 Tmol year^–1, for a global 3.8 Tmol year^–1 of methane production suggested by Egger et al. (2018). This range is consistent, at the lower end, with the estimate of 3.3–13.3 Tmol year^–1 by Wallmann et al. (2008) and the higher end of 1–4 Tmol year^–1 suggested by Torres et al. (2020). These estimates amount to a significant carbon sink that must be accounted for in global carbonate accumulation budgets.

Importance of DIC Outflux to the Water Column: Implication to C-S-Fe Dynamics

In present-day settings, 6.5 Tmol year^–1 (range 3.2–9.2 Tmol year^–1) of DIC flux toward the seafloor and water column from the SMTZ. In comparison, this amount is ∼20% (range: 10–28%) of the ∼33 Tmol year^–1 of global riverine DIC fluxing to the oceans (Meybeck, 1993; Amiotte Suchet et al., 2003; Aufdenkampe et al., 2011; Li et al., 2017). Most of our estimated DIC outflux (98%) occurs in continental margin sediments with shallow SMTZ depths of ∼13 mbsf (Table 2). Hence, this DIC flux can enter the water column, if it is not involved in diagenesis on the way, and impact ocean chemistry. As oceans continue to absorb rapidly rising atmospheric CO₂, the water column is prone to pH reduction with significant changes to ocean chemistry, associated biogeochemical cycling, and marine ecology (Doney et al., 2009). A pH reduction on the scale of 0.3–0.4 units has been predicted for the end of the 21st century (Feely et al., 2009). Further, under advective conditions, methane can enter the water column and undergo aerobic methane oxidation, which consumes bottom water oxygen and contributes to acidification through the production of CO₂ (Biastoch et al., 2011; Boetius and Wenzhöfer, 2013; Boudreau et al., 2015).

Alkalinity contribution from the sediments to the water column has important implications for ongoing climate change as they can reduce the ocean acidification effect and even enhance the CO₂ absorption capacity of surface water (Chen and Wang, 1999; Chen, 2002; Thomas et al., 2008; Hu and Cai, 2011; Krumins et al., 2013; Brenner et al., 2016). Hence, evaluating the contribution of DIC outflux to the water column in terms of total alkalinity (TA) to DIC ratio is of great importance. Most (86%) of the DIC outflux at diffusive methane flux settings is occurring within SMTZ depths of ≤4 mbsf and bathymetry below 200 m (Tables 2–4). Minimum TA/DIC ratios in the water column 20 m above the seabed under oxygen-limited conditions on continental shelves (100–250 m bathymetry) is generally ≤1 (Figure 5). This relationship implies that if the DIC outflux has a TA/DIC ratio of >1, it is contributed as alkalinity to the water column.

FIGURE 5

Figure 5. Global trend of TA/DIC ratio above the seafloor for oxygen-limited coastal setting. (A) Global distribution of TA/DIC at 100–250 m bathymetry within 20 m above the seabed. (B) Global distribution of TA/DIC at different oxygen concentrations. It can be noticed that the minimum TA/DIC ratio is about 1, under oxygen-limited condition in the shallow bathymetry settings. Data Resource: GLODAPv2 (Key et al., 2015; Lauvset et al., 2016; Olsen et al., 2016).

TA/DIC for the net DIC entering the SMTZ and above in diffusive settings—considering inputs from AOM (TA/DIC ratio = 2), OSR (TA/DIC ratio = 1), the deep-DIC flux (TA/DIC ratio = 1), and the average rates of DIC input parameters in Table 1 – will produce a value ∼1.4:

$$\begin{array}{ll}\text{TA}/{\text{DIC}}_{(\text{Total}-\text{DIC})}\hfill & =2\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{AOM})})+1\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{OSR})})+1\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{deep})})\hfill \\ \hfill & =[(2\times 0.44)+(1\times 0.34)+(1\times 0.22)]\hfill \\ \hfill & =1.44\hfill \end{array}(8)$$

However, the TA/DIC flux ratio from this pool would be determined by the authigenic carbonate precipitation and the balance between sulfide burial and oxidation. As discussed below, sulfide burial relates to the extent of sulfide oxidation and related acid production. Otherwise, assuming the stoichiometry from Wallmann et al. (2008) (H₂S + 2/5Fe₂O₃ → 2/5FeS₂ + 1/5 FeS + 1/5 FeO + H₂O), formation of sulfide minerals at the SMTZ would have no net impact on the TA/DIC ratio of DIC outflux. Carbonate precipitation would consume bicarbonate and reduce the TA by a factor of two. Thus, while methane derived authigenic carbonate precipitation sequesters a portion of total DIC entering the SMTZ, it will also contribute CO₂ to the water column from shallow sediments by reducing the alkalinity of the DIC outflux. Net TA/DIC of DIC outflux for our average DIC budget (Figure 4) under hypothetical complete sulfide burial can be given by:

$$\begin{array}{ll}\text{TA}/{\text{DIC}}_{(\text{DIC}-0\text{ut})}\hfill & =2\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{AOM})})+1\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{OSR})})+1\times ({\%}_{(\text{DIC}-\text{deep})})-2\times {\text{F}}_{\text{carb}}\hfill \\ \hfill & =[(2\times 0.44)+(1\times 0.34)+(1\times 0.22)]-(2\times 0.22)\hfill \\ \hfill & =1.04\hfill \end{array}(9)$$

This relationship suggests that even with a hypothetical complete sulfide burial, F_carb > 20% can cause DIC outflux to contribute CO₂ to the water column. Maximum and Minimum TA/DIC estimates for DIC outflux based on varying parameter ranges used in this model are provided in Supplementary Table 2.

Alkalinity flux would be different when sulfide oxidation occurs. AOM and OSR produce ∼5.3 Tmol year^–1 sulfide at SMTZ (equivalent to total SO₄^2– consumption). Complete or at least significant sulfide burial (e.g., Hensen et al., 2003; Dickens, 2011) could result in a substantial alkalinity contribution from sediments. Oxidation of this entire sulfide pool can, in contrast, produce acid and effectively neutralize the alkalinity flux. It has been suggested that globally 5 to 20% of the sulfide produced in sediments is buried as iron minerals (e.g., FeS, FeS₂) or with organic matter and the remaining is reoxidized to sulfate (Berner, 1982; Jørgensen, 1982; Jørgensen and Nelson, 2004; Zopfi et al., 2004; Wasmund et al., 2017).

Since marine methane flux settings have diagenetic systems different than sites without methane fluxes (e.g., Formolo and Lyons, 2013), the sulfide burial rate at diffusive methane flux settings could differ from the global average (Dickens, 2011). For example, nearly quantitative precipitation of all reduced sulfur by AOM was reported for an iron-rich, non-steady-state setting (Hensen et al., 2003) and more recently, and two thirds of sulfide produced via AOM and OSR at the SMTZ was inferred to undergo burial (Wurgaft et al., 2019). Availability of reactive iron (for sulfide burial) as well as the ratio of burial versus oxidation of the sulfide produced at the SMTZ is thus an important parameter in determining the impact of methane induced carbon cycling at diffusive methane flux settings. In general, a combination of higher sulfide burial with lower carbonate precipitation rates can result in a DIC outflux that contributes alkalinity from sediments, and the opposite can result in DIC contribution as CO₂. We assume the latter to be dominant in the present-day setting—that is, inefficient sulfide burial and high carbonate precipitation—which implies that out fluxing DIC would be a contributor to ongoing ocean acidification. We also emphasize the importance of integrated C-S-Fe approach to understand how these subsurface processes affect water column chemistry. Future studies should quantify the rates of sulfide oxidation and carbonate authigenesis in diverse and globally distributed settings characterized by subsurface methane fluxes to improve on these first-order estimates.

Conclusion

We estimated DIC cycling in methane charged shallow sediments with global values for diffusive methane and sulfate fluxes into the SMTZ. Our synthesis highlights major diffusive methane-powered carbon fluxes with 8.7 Tmol year^–1 DIC (range 6.4–10.2 Tmol year^–1) entering the shallow sediments due to AOM, OSR, and the deep-DIC flux. An estimated 6.5 Tmol year^–1 (range 3.2–9.2 Tmol year^–1) of the this DIC pool flows toward the water column. This DIC outflux will contribute alkalinity or CO₂ in different proportions to the water column, depending on the rates of authigenic carbonate precipitation and sulfide oxidation. At present, settings with pervasive authigenic carbonate precipitation and sulfide oxidation are contributing CO₂ and thus to ocean acidification. Our estimates also suggest that globally distributed precipitation of authigenic carbonate minerals at SMTZ characterized by diffusive methane transport sequesters an average of 1.7 Tmol year^–1 (range: 0.6–3.6 Tmol year^–1). This estimate is equivalent to ∼15% of carbonate accumulation in neritic and in pelagic sediments, respectively. Our study also suggests the need for detailed pore fluid chemical analysis in future expeditions at diffusive settings, which would include quantification of F_(DIC–deep), F_carb, and sulfide oxidation rates. Overall, we emphasize that settings characterized by diffusive methane fluxes may play an even larger role in oceanic carbon cycling via conversion of methane carbon to inorganic carbon, which contributes significantly to oceanic DIC pool and carbonate accumulation. These pathways must be included in coastal and geologic carbon models.

Data Availability Statement

All datasets generated for this study are included in the article/Supplementary Material.

Author Contributions

SA conceptualized the project and wrote the manuscript. RC, HA, and TL helped in the expansion of concepts, manuscript preparation, data synthesis, and calculations.

Funding

TL acknowledges funding from the ACS-PRF.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

SA would like to acknowledge the TAMUCC CMSS Research Assistantship during this manuscript preparation and Dr. Xinping Hu (TAMUCC) for constructive discussions on chemical implication of the DIC outflux in the article. We would like to thank the two reviewers for their constructive inputs that greatly improved this manuscript.

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00206/full#supplementary-material

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