Dissolved organic carbon release from surface sand of a high energy beach along the Southeastern Coast of North Carolina, USA

► High energy beach sands release DOC upon exposure to seawater. ► High energy beach sand DOC flux on a per meter squared basis is higher than other coastal sediments. ► DOC release from sandy sediments represents approximately 10% of total carbon remineralized in these systems. ► Sources of high-energy beach sand DOC vary seasonally with larger fluxes during warmer months. ► Sources of high-energy beach sand DOC are phytoplankton during the warmer months and more degraded material during the winter months.