Comparison of the burial rate estimation methods of organic and inorganic carbon and quantification of carbon burial in two high Arctic fjords

Sediment linear and mass accumulation rates in the fjords were 0.12-0.20 cm y−1 and 1160-2330 g m−2 y−1. The OC burial rates were 19.3-30.3 g OC m−2 y−1 in Hornsund and 5.7-10.0 g OC m−2 y−1 in Kongsfjorden. IC burial was taken as equal to IC deposition and ranged from 10.7 to 20.8 g IC m−2 y−1 in Hornsund and 19.4-45.7 g IC m−2 y−1 in Kongsfjorden. The “return flux” model seems most appropriate for carbon burial rate studies. The data demonstrated that OC burial dominates in Hornsund, while in Kongsfjorden, IC burial is more important.