MAGNITUDE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CARBON BURIAL IN LAKES, RESERVOIRS, ANDPEATLANDS

Globally, lakes are currently accumulating organic carbon (OC) at an e stimated annnal rate of about 42 Tg.yr(-1). Most of the OC in all but the most oligotrophic of these lakes is autochthonous, produced by pri mary production in the lakes. The sediments of reservoirs accumulate a n additional 160 Tg annually, and peatlands contribute 96 Tg annually. These three carbon pools collectively cover less than 2% of the Earth 's surface and constitute a carbon sink of about 300 Tg.yr(-1). Althou gh the oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, they accumulate OC at a rate of only about 100 Tg.yr(-1).