Abstract
The carbon cycle at the earth surface is a complex combination of organic and inorganic processes. If one excepts the calcium carbonate precipitation, the physical and chemical phenomena responsible for CO2 exchange between the atmosphere, the continents and the ocean are very fast and can be adequately described by thermodynamic equilibrium models. After a brief presentation of the pre-industrial carbon cycle at the global scale, and of its anthropogenic perturbations, equilibrium concepts are used to evaluate some of the major inorganic carbon fluxes, as well as their influence on the composition of rainwater, river water and surface or deep seawater. A short discussion on the interactions of organic and inorganic carbon in the sediments is also given.
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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Wollast, R., Vanderborght, J.P. (1994). Aquatic Carbonate Systems: Chemical Processes in Natural Waters and Global Cycles. In: Bidoglio, G., Stumm, W. (eds) Chemistry of Aquatic Systems: Local and Global Perspectives. EUROCOURSES, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1024-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1024-4_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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