The conservative and non-conservative behavior of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in Chinese estuarine waters

The spectral absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and their distributions in two Chinese estuaries, the Yangtze River Estuary and the Jiulong River Estuary, were studied during August 2003 (wet season) and during different seasons between 2003−2005, respectively. The CDOM concentrations (a₃₅₅) of fresh end members in the Jiulong River Estuary varied seasonally, while its quality remained relatively stable. However, the a₃₅₅ of the marine end members exhibited less variability. Application of a conservative mixing model indicated that CDOM behaved conservatively in the Yangtze River Estuary. No photobleaching removal was observed at high salinity region of this estuary. Although CDOM showed conservative behavior for many cruises in the Jiulong River Estuary, there was evidence for removal in the low salinity regions during some cruises. Laboratory mixing experiments and a salt addition experiment suggested that particle sorption of CDOM maybe the possible reason for the removal. These results showed that absorption properties of CDOM can be used as a tool to observe the quantitative and qualitative dynamics of DOM during estuarine mixing.     

Release of dissolved organic matter during oxic and anoxic decomposition of salt marsh cordgrass

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), as the light absorbing fraction of bulk dissolved organic matter (DOM), plays a number of important roles in the global and local biogeochemical cycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and in controlling the optical properties of estuarine and coastal waters. Intertidal areas such as salt marshes can contribute significant amounts of the CDOM that is exported to the ocean, but the processes controlling this CDOM source are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the production of DOM and CDOM from the decomposition of two salt marsh cordgrasses, Spartina patens, a C₄ grass, and Typha latifolia, a C₃ grass, in well-controlled laboratory experiments. During the seven-week incubation period of the salt marsh grasses in oxic and anoxic seawater, changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, dissolved nitrogen (DN) concentrations, stable carbon isotopic composition of DOC (DOC-δ¹³C), and CDOM fluorescence demonstrate a significant contribution of DOC and CDOM to estuarine waters from salt marsh plants, such as Spartina and Typha species. In the natural environment, however, the release processes of CDOM from different cordgrass species could be controlled largely by the in situ oxic and anoxic conditions present during degradation which affects both the production and decomposition of DOC and CDOM, as well as the optical properties of CDOM in estuarine and coastal waters.     

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic carbon in Chesapeake Bay

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is the light absorbing fraction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The optical properties of CDOM potentially permit remote sensing of DOC and CDOM, and correction for CDOM absorption is essential for remote sensing of chlorophyll a (chl a) in coastal and estuarine waters. To provide data for this purpose, we report the distributions of CDOM, DOC, and chl a from seven cruises in Chesapeake Bay in 1994–1997. We observed non-conservative distributions of chl a and DOC in half of the cruises, indicating net accumulations within the estuary; however, there were no net accumulations or losses of CDOM, measured as absorption at 355 nm or as fluorescence. Freshwater end member CDOM absorption varied from 2.2 to 4.1 m⁻¹. Coastal end member CDOM absorption was considerably lower, ranging over 0.4–1.1 m⁻¹. The fluorescence/absorption ratio was similar to those reported elsewhere for estuarine and coastal waters; however, in the lower salinity/high CDOM region of the Bay, the relationship was not constant, suggestive of the mixing of two or more CDOM sources. Chl a was not correlated with the absorption for most of the cruises nor for the data set as a whole; however, CDOM and DOC were significantly correlated, with two groups evident in the data. The first group had high CDOM concentrations per unit DOC and corresponded to the conservative DOC values observed in the transects. The second group had lower CDOM concentrations per unit DOC and corresponded to the non-conservative DOC values associated with net DOC accumulation near the chl a maximum on the salinity gradient. This indicates the production of non-chromophoric DOC in the region of the chl a maximum of Chesapeake Bay. In terms of remote sensing, these data show that (1) the retrieval of the absorption coefficient of CDOM from fluorescence measurements in the Bay must consider the variability of the fluorescence/absorption relationship, and (2) estimates of DOC acquired from CDOM absorption will underestimate DOC in regions with recent, net accumulations of DOC.     

舟山海域陆源溶解有机质变化及其对近岸羽状流的响应

2007年夏季在东海舟山海域河口锋区开展了陆源溶解有机质的调查研究。测定了有色溶解有机质(CDOM)在激发波长370 nm/发射波长460 nm处的荧光强度和在λ=355 nm处的吸收系数,用于代表陆源CDOM浓度,并测定了荧光指数以指示CDOM来源。结果表明,CDOM的荧光值和紫外吸收系数之间呈显著正相关性,陆源CDOM浓度大体有向海方向降低的趋势,但是纵向上存在一些"突跃"现象。在舟山海域东北角不时观测到表层水体含有高浓度的CDOM,但变异性很大,推测可能该海区受到长江口羽状流的影响。在连续观测站发现陆源CDOM浓度在低平潮时往往比高平潮时要高。河海水在混合过程中CDOM浓度与盐度呈显著的线性负相关关系。在低盐度的悬沙锋区(S<24)CDOM浓度明显低于理论稀释值,而在较高盐度的羽状锋区,CDOM浓度接近于理论稀释值。在盐度为24~31范围内,大部分水样的荧光指数在1.50上下波动,表明其中CDOM来源以陆地来源为主;在较低盐度(S<24)的水样中荧光指数在1.70至1.90以上,表明CDOM以海洋来源为主,这与其陆源组分在高浊度的低盐度区存在显著的去除过程有关。研究表明,舟山海域水质存在着显著的变异性,与近岸羽状流密切相关,陆源溶解有机质的分布特征对此有较好的响应。     

大洋河河口海域有色溶解性有机物的光学特性及遥感反演模型

有色溶解性有机物(CDOM)在河口混合过程中近似呈保守行为,可作为水团运动的示踪剂.基于2009年5月6日大洋河河口海域水体调查的实测数据,对该区域CDOM光学特性及遥感反演模型进行了研究,结果表明:研究区域CDOM主要来自河流输入,成分相对较稳定,属于典型的近岸二类水体区域;波长275～295 nm的光谱斜率和波长4...     

Assessing temporal variation of coloured dissolved organic matter in the coastal waters of South Eastern Arabian Sea

Coloured dissolved organic matter （CDOM） plays a major role in marine photochemical and biological processes and its optical properties are known to affect the underwater light penetration. This paper highlights in situ optical estimation and satellite retrieval of CDOM in deciphering its temporal variations in coastal waters of the South Eastern Arabian Sea. The study accentuated the source of CDOM as terrigenous origin during monsoon, of in situ productions during pre-monsoon and during post-monsoon of autochthonous-allocthonous origin. The matchup analysis for in situ and MODIS Aqua retrieved A_dg443 exhibited bias which decreased by incorporating the seasonal component. The study also identified degrading bloom of Noctiluca scintillans as the source for exceptionally high CDOM in the area during January and February. The study demands to incorporate seasonal components and phytoplankton abundance while assessing the performance of CDOM algorithms in optically complex coastal waters.     

The satellite reversion of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) based on the analysis of the mixing behavior of DOC and colored dissolved organic matter: the East China Sea as an example

The retrieval of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) distribution by remote sensing is mainly based on the empirical relationship of DOC concentration and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) concentration in many literatures. To investigate the nature of this relationship, the distributions and mixing behaviors of DOC and CDOM are reviewed in the world’s major estuaries and bays. It is found that, generally, the CDOM concentration is well correlated with the salinity in most estuaries, while DOC usually shows a nonconservative behavior which leads to a weak correlation between the DOC concentration and the CDOM concentration. To establish a good satellite reversion of the DOC concentration, the East China Sea(ECS) was taken as an example, and the mixing behavior of DOC and CDOM as well as the influence of biogeochemical processes were analyzed except for the physical mixing process with the data from late autumn (November, 2010) and winter (December, 2009) cruises. In the two ECS cruises, the CDOM concentration was found to be tightly correlated with the salinity, influenced little by the photochemical or biological processes. The data from the winter cruise show that DOC followed a conservative mixing along the salinity gradient, while in the late autumn cruise it was significantly affected by the biological activities, resulting in a poor correlation between the DOC and the CDOM. Accordingly, an improved DOC algorithm (CSDM) was proposed: when the biological influence was significant (Chl a greater than 0.8 μg/dm3 ), DOC was retrieved by the conservative and biological model, and if the conservative mixing was dominant (Chl a less than 0.8 μg/dm3 ), the direct DOC concentration and CDOM concentration relationship was used. Based on the proposed algorithm, a reasonable DOC distribution for the ECS from satellite was obtained in this study, and the proposed method can be applied to the other large river-dominant marginal sea.     

长江口盐度梯度下不同形态碳的分布、来源与混合行为

河口碳的生物地球化学过程是全球碳循环的重要组成。通过测定溶解无机碳（DIC）及其稳定同位素丰度（δ13C_DIC）,溶解有机碳（DOC）,有色溶解有机物（CDOM）,颗粒有机碳（POC）及其稳定同位素丰度（δ13C_POC）与元素比值（N/C）及相关指标,研究了2014年7月长江口盐度梯度下不同形态碳的分布、来源和混合行为。结果表明,DIC浓度、DOC浓度、POC含量分别为1 583.2~1 739.6 μmol/L,128.4~369.4 μmol/L和51.2~530.8 μmol/L,这些不同形态碳及CDOM的荧光组分的分布模式相似,均是从口内到口外,整体呈现先增大后减小的趋势,并与盐度呈现非保守混合行为。添加作用主要发生在在口门处最大浑浊带附近。与含量相反,从口内到口外,δ13C_DIC和δ13C_POC均呈现逐渐减小再增大的趋势,在口门附近达到最低值,分别为-9.7‰和-26.7‰。在口门附近不同形态碳含量上升及δ13C_DIC、δ13C_POC的降低可能主要与沉积物再悬浮及微生物作用有关。基于蒙特卡洛模拟的三端元混合模型的结果显示,河口内外POC来源变化明显,口内POC以陆源有机碳贡献为主,平均为62.3%,口外海源贡献逐渐增加。CDOM相关参数结果表明长江口CDOM主要来自陆源输入,海源及人类活动等也对其产生影响。     

High-resolution measurements of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River plume regions

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was measured in the spring and summer in the northern Gulf of Mexico with the ECOShuttle, a towed, instrumented, undulating vehicle. A submersible pump mounted on the vehicle supplied continuously flowing, uncontaminated seawater to online instruments in the shipboard laboratory and allowed discrete samples to be taken for further analysis. CDOM in the northern Gulf of Mexico was dominated by freshwater inputs from the Mississippi River through the Birdfoot region and to the west by discharge from the Atchafalaya River. CDOM was more extensively dispersed in the high-flow period in the spring but in both time periods was limited by stratification to the upper 12 m or so. Thin, subsurface CDOM maxima were observed below the plume during the highly stratified summer period but were absent in the spring. However, there was evidence of significant in situ biological production of CDOM in both seasons.The Mississippi River freshwater end member was similar in spring and summer, while the Atchafalaya end member was significantly higher in the spring. In both time periods, the Atchafalaya was significantly higher in CDOM and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) than the Mississippi presumably due to local production and exchange within the coastal wetlands along the lower Atchafalaya which are absent along the lower Mississippi. Nearshore waters may also have higher CDOM due to outwelling from coastal wetlands. High-resolution measurements allow the differentiation of various water masses and are indicative of rapidly varying (days to weeks) source waters. Highly dynamic but conservative mixing between various freshwater and marine end members apparently dominates CDOM distributions in the area with significant in situ biological inputs (bacterial degradation of phytoplankton detritus), evidence of flocculation, and minor photobleaching effects also observed. It is clear that high-resolution measurements and adaptive sampling strategies allow a more detailed examination of the processes that control CDOM distributions in river-dominated systems.     

Analysis of estuarine colour components during non-monsoon period through Ocean Colour Monitor

Simultaneous acquisition of water samples, radiance and irradiance measurements were carried out from 40 stations in the Mandovi–Zuari estuaries during February to May 2002. From the samples collected, inherent and apparent optical properties (IOP and AOP) such as absorption coefficient (a), upwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient (k_u) and subsurface reflectance (R) were derived. Using these optical properties, radiative transfer at each water column is examined. On the basis of the radiative transfer outcome, band-ratio algorithms are derived for three optically active substances (OAS), viz, chlorophyll-a, suspended sediment and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The respective algorithms are 670/555, 490/670 and 412/670 nm for chlorophyll-a, suspended sediment and CDOM. These algorithms are applied to Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM), onboard Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS)-Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (P4), scenes (digital data), to synoptically analyze these OAS. The synoptic analysis of OAS revealed different hydrodynamic characteristics of the estuaries during non-monsoon seasons.     

水体中有色可溶性有机物的研究进展

有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)是水体中一类重要的光吸收物质,在短波的吸收大大降低了紫外辐射在水体的衰减,因而其光学行为和生物地球化学循环将对水体生态系统产生重要影响。CDOM在水体生态系统、水色遥感和全球碳循环研究中具有广阔的应用前景。文章综述了国内外CDOM研究现状与动态,其中包括CDOM的光吸收特性、荧光特性、光化学降解以及CDOM和DOC浓度的水色遥感,最后提出在内陆水体湖泊中开展CDOM研究的设想。     

Tracing water mass mixing in the Baltic–North Sea transition zone using the optical properties of coloured dissolved organic matter

The distribution and characteristics of coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Baltic – North Sea transition zone were studied. The aim was to assess the validity of predicting CDOM absorption in the region on the basis of water mass mixing alone and demonstrate the utility of CDOM as an indicator of water mass mixing in coastal seas. A three-end-member mixing model representing the three major allochthonous CDOM sources was sufficient to describe the patterns in CDOM absorption distribution observed. The three-end-member water masses were the: Baltic outflow, German Bight and the central North Sea. Previously, it was thought that water from the German Bight transported northwards in the Jutland coastal current only sporadically influenced mixing between the Baltic and North Sea. The results from this study show that water from the German Bight is detectable at salinities down to 12 in the Kattegat and Belt Sea. On average, 23% of the CDOM in bottom waters of the Kattegat, Great Belt, Belt Sea, Arkona Sea and the Sound originated from the German Bight. Using this conservative mixing model approach, local CDOM inputs were detectable but found to be limited, representing only 0.25% of CDOM in the surface waters of the Kattegat and Belt Sea. The conservative mixing of CDOM makes it possible to predict its distribution and characteristics and offers a powerful tool for tracing water mass mixing in the region. The results also emphasize the need to include the Jutland Coastal current in hydrodynamic models for the region.     

厦门湾有色溶解有机物的光吸收特性研究

研究了厦门湾九龙江河口区、西海域、同安湾及东侧水道海水中有色溶解有机物(CDOM)的光吸收特性,分析了CDOM的河口行为,并讨论了CDOM光吸收特性与其荧光性质之间的关系。结果表明,厦门湾表层海水CDOM光吸收系数a(355)的水平分布表现为河口区最高、东侧水道最低、西海域和同安湾介于两者之间,底层水a(355)的分布与表层基本相似,表明陆源河流输入是厦门湾CDOM的主要来源;a(355)的垂直分布为表层高于底层,主要受水文和生物因素控制。厦门湾表层水CDOM光谱斜率S的平均值介于0.014—0.018nm-1,但河口低盐度区S值较小,反映陆源腐殖质的影响。a(355)在河口混合中呈保守行为,表明CDOM具有良好的保守性质。CDOM的吸收系数a(355)与其荧光强度之间表现为较好的相关关系,指示可以用灵敏度更高的荧光方法来研究CDOM的分布和行为。     

Correlation of the absorption coefficient with a reduction in mean mass for dissolved organic matter in southwest Florida river plumes

Results are presented from an investigation of the relationship between molecular mass distribution and optical properties for colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM); a complex assembly of organic macromolecules of marine and freshwater origin found throughout the surface ocean. Unique data are derived from the application of a new technique, a combination of a hydrophilic–lipophilic copolymer-based solid phase extraction (SPE) with electrospray ionization (ESI) continuous flowing ion trap mass spectrometry (cf-MS), for the direct determination of CDOM mass distribution. An evaluation of this copolymer-based extraction technique for the analysis of Suwannee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM) reference material revealed that the current method compares favorably with C₁₈ modified silica or XAD resin-based extraction methods reported in the literature when considering extraction efficiency or low extraction bias for CDOM. The mass distribution of CDOM in several freshwater to marine transition zones along coastal southwestern Florida has been determined with this technique. All rivers in the study region had a bimodal distribution of masses. A case study of the Caloosahatchee River outflow CDOM mass distribution data are presented as an example of the modification in mass distributions. The lower mass mode of the bimodal distribution was observed to have a relatively stable mean throughout the study region at 406±9 Da, while decreasing in concentration in a non-conservative manner with salinity. In contrast, the upper mass mode of the bimodal distribution was observed to have a variable mean, reaching 1408 Da in the least saline waters and decreasing by 174 Da through the transect toward higher salinity coastal waters. Coinciding with this reduction in mean mass for the upper distribution is a non-conservative reduction in concentration when compared with salinity. We define apparent organic carbon (AOC) as a function of the cf-MS determined total integrated area and use this value to determine concentration of the total extracted CDOM. Unique correlations between the CDOM fluorescence (350-nm excitation/450-nm emission) and the AOC for these coastal samples have been observed for each of three rivers in the study region. The steepest slope and highest correlation between optical and mass spectral properties are observed in rivers with strongly absorbing waters originating in the Florida Everglades and lowest in rivers draining clearer waters from widely variable and anthropogenic influenced regions. The trends in molecular mass distribution and corresponding optical properties support the theory that CDOM in coastal zones is environmentally processed material from terrestrial sources. Probable cause of the reduction in mean mass and suggestions for further investigation of sources and transformations of CDOM are discussed.     

赤潮异弯藻有色可溶性有机物的变化以及对其他微藻的影响

赤潮消长显著影响海洋中有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)的变化.赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)是一种常发的鱼毒性赤潮种类,是产生CDOM较显著的种类.本文以赤潮异弯藻CDOM为研究对象,分析了CDOM在种群消长中的变化特征,研究了光对赤潮异弯藻CDOM组成物质变化的影响,并就此变化对其他微藻种群生长造成的影响进行了定量研究.结果表明:(1)以紫外吸收的定量变化为指标,赤潮异弯藻CDOM的量与种群消长呈互逆相关:种群密度增加, CDOM降低;种群密度降低, CDOM增加;长期培养种群中, CDOM含量增加.(2)光对该藻产生的CDOM物质组成和定量有显著影响,紫外照射能显著漂白CDOM,类腐殖质和腐殖酸降解明显.(3)该藻CDOM变化影响其他微藻种群生长:CDOM显著促进微小卡罗藻(Karlodinium micrum)、小硅藻(Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima)的种群生长,受光降解后对小硅藻的促进作用降低,但对微小卡罗藻的促进作用不变; CDOM 抑制海洋原甲藻(Prorocenturm micans)种群生长,光降解后,其抑制作用降低.赤潮异弯藻赤潮产生的大量且稳定的CDOM可以影响海洋微型生物群落结构.     

基于遥感反演的浒苔绿潮暴发对有色溶解有机物与叶绿素时空分布特征的影响

浒苔的暴发会对水体生态环境产生巨大的影响, 对此进行遥感监测具有十分重要的意义。本文基于现场同步实测的有色溶解有机物(colored dissolved organic matter, CDOM)吸收系数、叶绿素浓度以及光谱数据建立遥感反演模型,再结合MODIS卫星影像提取山东半岛南侧近岸海域在各年份浒苔暴发前后CDOM与叶绿素浓度的时空分布特征。结果表明, 浒苔的消亡分解会在水体中产生大量的CDOM, 但浒苔的生长繁殖同样会消耗CDOM, 此外CDOM还受到浒苔暴发时期强烈的光降解作用。在各种因素的综合作用下, 研究区海域CDOM浓度在浒苔暴发时期微弱升高, 浒苔消亡后CDOM浓度则开始回落。浒苔在暴发期会抑制其他浮游微藻的生长, 使研究区海域叶绿素浓度有所降低, 而浒苔消亡后叶绿素浓度有所上升。水体中的叶绿素受多种生物地球化学因素的影响, 因此叶绿素浓度的降低与浒苔的暴发强度之间没有明确的相关性。遥感反演可以大范围快速地提取水体中各种要素的分布情况, 但就浒苔的暴发对海水中各要素的影响机制而言, 还需要结合各种生态环境因子进行综合分析。     

Spatial and temporal variability of colored dissolved organic matter absorption properties in the Taiwan Strait

Spatial and temporal variability of the absorption properties of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Taiwan Strait was investigated in summer (July to August of 2006) and winter (from December 2006 to January of 2007) seasons. The CDOM absorption coefficient at 280 nm (a 280 ) showed a decreasing trend from nearshore to offshore areas while the spectral slope coefficient parameter calculated between wavelengths 275-295 nm (S 275 295 ) showed an increase, indicative of decreasing aromaticity and molecular weight of the CDOM. The average a 280 in winter (1.47 ± 0.50 m 1 ) was significantly higher than in summer (1.10 ± 0.41 m 1 ), while the average S 275 295 in winter (26.7 ± 5.2 μm 1 ) was significantly lower than in summer (30.6 ± 5.5 μm 1 ), demonstrating clear seasonal variation in CDOM abundance and properties in the Taiwan Strait. A three-end- member conservative mixing model showed that local terrestrial CDOM inputs from several rivers along the western coast were small (<5%). However, the distribution of CDOM in the Taiwan Strait is mainly controlled by water mass movement [i.e., the Zhe-min Coastal Current (ZCC) and the Kuroshio Branch Current (KBC) in winter and the South China Sea Water (SCSW) in summer]. Biological activity was also an important factor affecting the distribution of CDOM in the offshore region in summer months.     

地中海黄色物质次表层极大值的季节变化观测

首次通过2008-2009年在西北地中海和东地中海海域投放的两台Bio-Argo浮标的观测数据,分析与研究了该海区黄色物质次表层极大值的季节变化规律.研究表明次表层黄色物质在夏季开始爆发,伴随着叶绿素a浓度的逐渐降低;到冬季在强烈的垂向混合作用下结束.且黄色物质极大值的深度与叶绿素a浓度极大值(DCM)的深度基本一致,说明虽然黄色物质与浮游植物之间并不存在直接联系,但浮游植物的降解是黄色物质的主要来源.文中推测,可能由于该海区浮游植物与微生物的强耦合,导致了黄色物质与叶绿素a之间存在明显的反变关系.     

Relationship between the optical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and total concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the southern Baltic Sea region

Absorption and fluorescence of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements were performed during three oceanographic surveys in 1994 in the southern Baltic Sea (Polish area of the Baltic Proper). DOC was measured both by high-temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) and low-temperature oxidation (LTO) conventional persulphate methods. CDOM fluorescence was shown to be highly correlated with absorption, with the same regression parameters, despite the seasonal change in different hydrographic conditions and the fluorescence quantum yield variations (1.23 ± 0.07 in April and 0.97 ± 0.12 in September). The results show a good correlation between the optical parameters and DOC although ˜ 70% of the DOC does not display significant absorption in the UV-visible range (350–750 nm). The non-absorbing DOC measured with HTCO method appears unaffected by seasonal changes. Consequently, total DOC can be predicted by optical methods using remote sensing techniques. The non-absorbing DOC measured by LTO method varies from 62% (April) to 76% (September), which implies that there is requirement for estimates on a seasonal basis.     

Hydrography of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the North Atlantic

The distribution and optical absorption characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were systematically investigated along three meridional transects in the North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea conducted as part of the 2003 US CLIVAR/CO₂ Repeat Hydrography survey. Hydrographic transects covered in aggregate a latitudinal range of 5° to 62° north along longitudes 20°W (line A16N, Leg 1), 52°W (A20), and 66°W (A22). Absorption spectra of filtered seawater samples were collected and analyzed for depths ranging from the surface to ∼6000 m, sampling all the ocean water masses in the western basin of the subtropical North Atlantic and several stations on the North and South American continental slopes. The lowest surface abundances of CDOM (< 0.1 m⁻¹ absorption coefficient at 325 nm) were found in the central subtropical gyres while the highest surface abundances (∼0.7 m⁻¹) were found along the continental shelves and within the subpolar gyre, confirming recent satellite-based assessments of surface CDOM distribution. Within the ocean interior, CDOM abundances were relatively high (0.1–0.2 m⁻¹ absorption coefficient at 325 nm) except in the subtropical mode water, where a local minimum exists due to the subduction of low CDOM surface waters during mode water formation. In the subthermocline water masses of the western basin, changes in CDOM abundance are not correlated with increasing ventilation age as assessed using chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) concentrations and the atmospheric CFC history. But dissolved organic carbon (DOC) mass-specific absorption coefficients of CDOM increase with increasing ventilation age in the deep sea, indicating that CDOM is a refractory component of the DOC pool. The overall CDOM distribution in the North Atlantic reflects the rapid advection and mixing processes of the basin and demonstrates that remineralization in the ocean interior is not a significant sink for CDOM. This supports the potential of CDOM as a tracer of ocean circulation processes for subducted water masses.