Dataset: stream carbon age in the Australian humid tropics

This resource includes isotopic data from samples collected in 18 catchments of the Australian humid tropics (Queensland) between August 2020 and March 2021. These data were collected with the purpose of assessing the composition and age of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in headwater streams, with a focus on the effect of land use (pristine rainforest versus agricultural) on DOC composition and age.

Included data comprise stream water temperature, conductivity, partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), DOC concentration, δ¹³C of DOC, radiocarbon content of DOC and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H), and optical properties of dissolved organic matter including biological and humic indices.

The content of this resource serves as the data for the following manuscript: C. Duvert, V. Solano, D. I. Cendón, F. Ulloa-Cedamanos, L. K. McDonough, R. G. M. Spencer, N. C. Munksgaard, L. B. Hutley, J.-S. Moquet, D. E. Butman. Tropical wet season runoff mobilises younger carbon in rainforest streams but older carbon in agricultural streams. Submitted to Biogeosciences.