Isotopic fractionation in open systems: application to organic matter decomposition in ocean and land

Abstract

Stable isotopic evolution of a reservoir from which material is continuously removed with isotopic fractionation is generally described by the Rayleigh equa tion, widely used in geochemical research to describe two-component systems. It has been extended to the case of multi-component sources as well. Here we pre sent an equation describing isotopic fractionation in open systems, wherefrom material is not only removed with isotopic fractionation, but fresh material of a dif ferent isotopic composition is added from an external source, at a given rate, and some examples where this equation is applicable.