Dissolved black carbon in aquatic environments with an emphasis on lacustrine systems: a review

Abstract

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is the remobilized soluble fraction of black carbon (BC). DBC, present in all aquatic environments, is a heterogeneous mixture of various pyrogenic aromatics. For a long time, oceans were solely considered to be the largest pool of DBC. However, recent research indicates that lakes might also contain significant concentrations of DBC. Anthropogenic BC emissions and seasonal changes driven by climate change could increase DBC flux to glacial and fluvial lacustrine systems with unique effects. In this article, current knowledge concerning the formation, sources, transportation, fate, and environmental implications of DBC in lacustrine networks is presented. Furthermore, ambiguities pertaining to terminology and methodologies used in the separation and quantification of DBC are also reviewed, and research gaps that should be addressed in future studies are highlighted. Constraining DBC dynamics and residence times in lacustrine systems could provide valuable insights into anthropogenic perturbations of the global carbon cycle.