The evolution of a coastal carbon store over the last millennium

Fjord sediments are recognized as hotspots for the burial and storage of organic carbon, yet little is known about long-term drivers significant terrestrial carbon (OC) transfers into these coastal stores. The mid-latitude fjord catchments Scotland have a long history human occupation environmental disturbance. We provide new evidence to show that increased anthropogenic disturbances over last 500 years appear driven step change in magnitude OC transported ocean. Increased pressures from mining, agriculture forestry latter half millennium destabilized catchment soils remobilized deep stores aged Here we capable acting highly responsive effective sinks, with accumulation rates increasing up 20% during peak period responsiveness sink represents potentially time-evolving component global cycle currently not but has potential become increasingly important understanding role our climate system.