Radiocarbon and stable-isotope geochemistry of organic and inorganic carbon in lake superior

We present a lake-wide investigation of Lake Superior carbon and organic matter biogeochemistry using radiocarbon, stable isotope, and carbon concentrations. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) abundance in the lake was 121-122 Tg C, with offshore concentration and δ ¹³C values being laterally homogenous and tightly coupled to the physical and thermal regime and biochemical processes. Offshore Δ ¹⁴C of DIC (50-65‰) exhibited lateral homogeneity and was more ¹⁴C enriched than co-occurring atmospheric CO ₂ (∼38‰); nearshore δ ¹⁴C of DIC (36-38‰) was similar to atmospheric CO ₂. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) abundance was 14.2-16.4 Tg C. DOC's concentration and δ ¹³C were homogenous in June (mixed lake), but varied laterally during August (stratification) possibly due to spatial differences in lake productivity. Throughout sampling, DOC had modern radiocarbon values (14-58‰) indicating a semilabile nature with a turnover time of ≤60years. Lake particulate organic carbon (POC, 0.9-1.3 Tg C) was consistently ¹³C depleted relative to DOC. The δ ¹⁵N of epilimnetic particulate organic nitrogen shifted to more negative values during stratification possibly indicating greater use of nitrate (rather than ammonium) by phytoplankton in August. POC's radiocarbon was spatially heterogeneous (Δ ¹⁴C range: 58‰ to-303‰), and generally ¹⁴C depleted relative to DOC and DIC. POC δ ¹⁴C depletion could not be accounted for by black carbon in the lake but, because of its spatial and temporal distribution, is attributed to sediment resuspension. The presence of old POC within the epilimnion of the open lake indicates possible benthic-pelagic coupling in the lake's organic carbon cycle; the ultimate fate of this old POC bears further investigation.