Exudation and decomposition of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from some temperate macroalgae

The quantity of chromophoric or coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) released by eleven species of intertidal and sub-tidal macroalgae commonly found on UK shores was investigated. The subsequent breakdown of CDOM was also measured by exposing collected CDOM samples to light and dark conditions for over two weeks. CDOM absorption properties were compared at a fixed wavelength of 440 nm and across two integrated wave - bands; UV-A (400–315 nm) and UV-B (315–280 nm). Absorption spectra of macroalgal CDOM samples were typically characterized by peaks and shoulders in the UV bands, features which were species specific. The spectral slope, derived using the log-linear method, proved to be very specific to the species and to the effect of light. Slope measurements ranged from 0.010 to 0.027 nm⁻¹, in the range of normal seawater values. Significantly more CDOM was produced by algae which were illuminated, providing evidence for a light driven exudation mechanism. Averaged across all species, exudation in the dark accounted for 63.7% of that in the light in the UV-B band. Interspecific differences in exudation rate encompassed an order of magnitude, with the highest absorption measurements attributable to brown algae. However, some brown algae produced considerably less CDOM (e.g. Pelvetia canaliculata), which were more comparable to the green and red species. Over an exposure time of 16 days, significant photochemical degradation of CDOM was observed using a natural summer sunlight regime, showing that natural solar radiation could be an important removal mechanism for newly produced algal CDOM. Though the most obvious effect was a decrease in absorption, photo-bleaching also caused a significant increase in the spectral slope parameter of 0.004 nm⁻¹.     

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。     

养马岛附近海域藻华期间有色溶解有机质的生物可利用性研究

本研究利用吸收光谱和荧光激发-发射矩阵光谱-平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC),研究了养马岛附近海域海水中有色溶解有机质(CDOM)的浓度、组成、来源和生物可利用性,并估算了浮游植物生长繁殖对CDOM及具有生物可利用性CDOM的贡献。结果表明,表、底层海水中CDOM浓度(以吸收系数a₃₅₀计)平均值分别为1.62±0.42 m^-1和1.30±0.47 m^-1,光谱斜率(S_275-295)平均值分别为0.022±0.003 nm^-1和0.023±0.003 nm^-1。利用PARAFAC模型识别出4种荧光组分,分别为陆源类腐殖酸C1、类色氨酸C2、类酪氨酸C3和微生物源类腐殖酸C4。荧光指数(FIX)、腐殖化指数(HIX)和生物指数(BIX)显示,CDOM受陆源输入和海洋自生源的综合影响。降解实验结果显示,表、底层海水中生物可利用性CDOM百分比(%△a₃₅₀)平均值分别为(23.36%±17.94%)和(8.93%±20.30%)。C1、C2和C4组分的荧光强度在培养之后降低,而C3组分的荧光强度上升。各荧光组分生物可利用性依次递减的顺序为:%△C1(23.75%±8.96%)＞%△C4(20.83%±11.71%)＞%△C2(11.67%±38.87%)＞%△C3(-29.61%±39.90%),显示培养之后CDOM的平均分子量和腐殖化程度降低。表层海水中a₃₅₀、%△a350与Chl a之间存在显著线性相关关系,据此可以估算出浮游植物生长繁殖对CDOM的贡献为36.9%,对具有生物可利用性CDOM的贡献为85.0%。     

长江口及邻近海域有色溶解有机物的分布及河口混合行为的季节变化研究

于2019年3月、7月和10月对长江口及邻近海域有色溶解有机物(CDOM)的分布及河口混合行为进行分析研究。通过对盐度、吸收光谱斜率S_275～295、吸收系数a_CDOM(355)以及叶绿素a的分析发现,在河口内低盐度区,7月淡水流量大,陆源输入量最大,a_CDOM(355)值最高,3月CDOM来源主要受陆源输入和浮游植物生产活动的影响,a_CDOM(355)值较10月高;在口外高盐度区,3月和7月的a_CDOM(355)值相近,均低于10月,CDOM分布主要受浮游植物生产活动的影响。利用三维荧光光谱−平行因子分析方法共鉴定出4个荧光组分：类蛋白质组分C1(280/330 nm)、类腐殖质组分C2(300/350 nm)、类腐殖质组分C3(260/465 nm)和类腐殖质组分C4(320/410 nm)。在3月、7月及10月,4个荧光组分强度由长江口内到口外呈递减趋势,受陆源输入和浮游植物生产活动的影响,平均荧光强度的季节变化总体上来说,由大到小依次为7月、10月、3月。3个季节CDOM荧光组分均存在偏离理论稀释线的现象,说明CDOM的来源(陆源输入、沉积物再悬浮和现场生物活动)和去除(被颗粒物吸附、光降解和细菌降解)机制复杂多变,揭示了长江口区域CDOM在不同时空下的不保守混合行为。     

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.     

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.     

The relationship between chromophoric dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic carbon in the European Atlantic coastal area and in the West Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lions)

The absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (aCDOM) has been found to be correlated with fluorescence emission (excitation at 355 nm). In the coastal European Atlantic area and in the Western Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lions), a significant statistical dependence has been found between aCDOM and fluorescence with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. The relationship shows that, in the river plume areas (Rhine in the North Sea and Rhône in the Gulf of Lions), a consistent fraction of DOC (from 40% to 60% of the average of the DOC measured) is non-absorbing in visible light range, where the dissolved organic matter (DOM) is typically absorbent. In comparison, in the open sea, apparently not affected by the continental inputs, the entire DOC belongs to the chromophoric DOM whose specific absorption is lower (5 to 10 times) than that found in the river plume areas.     

Characterization of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Baltic Sea by excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is the major light absorber in the Baltic Sea. In this study, excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra and UV–visible absorption spectra of CDOM are reported as a function of salinity. Samples from different locations and over different seasons were collected during four cruises in 2002 and 2003 in the Baltic Sea in both Pomeranian Bay and the Gulf of Gdansk. Absorption by CDOM decreased with increased distance from the riverine source and reached a relatively stable absorption background in the open sea. Regression analysis showed that fluorescence intensity was linearly related to absorption by CDOM at 375 nm and a_CDOM(375) absorption coefficients were inversely related to salinity. Analysis of CDOM-EEM spectra indicated that a change in composition of CDOM occurred along the salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea. Analysis of percent contribution of respective fluorophore groups to the total intensity of EEM spectra indicated that the fluorescence peaks associated with terrestrial humic components of the CDOM and total integrated fluorescence decreased with decreasing CDOM absorption. In contrast, the protein-like fraction of CDOM decreased to a lesser degree than the others. Analysis of the percent contribution of fluorescence peak intensities to the total fluorescence along the salinity gradient showed that the contribution of protein-like fluorophores increased from 2.6% to 5.1% in the high-salinity region of the transect. Fluorescence and absorption changes observed in the Baltic Sea were similar to those observed in similar transects that have been sampled elsewhere, e.g. in European estuaries, Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic Bight and the Cape Fear River plume in the South Atlantic Bight, although the changes in the Baltic Sea occurred over a much smaller salinity gradient.     

Seasonal dynamics of light absorption by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the NW Mediterranean Sea (BOUSSOLE site)

We analyze a two-year time-series of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) light absorption measurements in the upper 400 m of the water column at the BOUSSOLE site in the NW Mediterranean Sea. The seasonal dynamics of the CDOM light absorption coefficients at 440 nm (a_cdom(440)) is essentially characterized by (i) subsurface maxima forming in spring and progressively reinforcing throughout summer, (ii) impoverishment in the surface layer throughout summer and (iii) vertical homogeneity in winter. Seasonal variations of the spectral dependence of CDOM absorption, as described by the exponential slope value (S_cdom), are characterized by highest values in summer and autumn at the surface and low values at the depths of a_cdom(440) subsurface maxima or just below them. Variations of a_cdom(440) are likely controlled by microbial digestion of phytoplankton cells, which leads to CDOM production, and by photochemical destruction (photobleaching), which leads to CDOM degradation. Photobleaching is also the main driver of S_cdom variations. Consistently with previous observations, a_cdom(440) for a given chlorophyll a concentration is higher than expected from Case I waters bio-optical models. The total non-water light absorption budget shows that surface waters at the BOUSSOLE site are largely dominated by CDOM during all seasons but the algal bloom in March and April. These results improve the knowledge of CDOM absorption dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea, which is scarcely documented. In addition, they open the way to improved algorithms for the retrieval of CDOM absorption from field or satellite radiometric measurements.     

Relationships between suspended particulate material, light attenuation and Secchi depth in UK marine waters

Measurements of sub-surface light attenuation (K_d), Secchi depth and suspended particulate material (SPM) were made at 382 locations in transitional, coastal and offshore waters around the United Kingdom (hereafter UK) between August 2004 and December 2005. Data were analysed statistically in relation to a marine water typology characterised by differences in tidal range, mixing and salinity. There was a strong statistically significant linear relationship between SPM and K_d for the full data set. We show that slightly better results are obtained by fitting separate models to data from transitional waters and coastal and offshore waters combined. These linear models were used to predict K_d from SPM. Using a statistic (D) to quantify the error of prediction of K_d from SPM, we found an overall prediction error rate of 23.1%. Statistically significant linear relationships were also evident between the log of Secchi depth and the log of K_d in waters around the UK. Again, statistically significant improvements were obtained by fitting separate models to estuarine and combined coastal/offshore data – however, the prediction error was improved only marginally, from 31.6% to 29.7%. Prediction was poor in transitional waters (D = 39.5%) but relatively good in coastal/offshore waters (D = 26.9%).SPM data were extracted from long term monitoring data sites held by the UK Environment Agency. The appropriate linear models (estuarine or combined coastal/offshore) were applied to the SPM data to obtain representative K_d values from estuarine, coastal and offshore sites. Estuarine waters typically had higher concentrations of SPM (8.2–73.8 mg l⁻¹) compared to coastal waters (3.0–24.1 mg l⁻¹) and offshore waters (9.3 mg l⁻¹). The higher SPM values in estuarine waters corresponded to higher values of K_d (0.8–5.6 m⁻¹). Water types that were identified by large tidal ranges and exposure typically had the highest K_d ranges in both estuarine and coastal waters. In terms of susceptibility to eutrophication, large macrotidal, well mixed estuarine waters, such as the Thames embayment and the Humber estuary were identified at least risk from eutrophic conditions due to light-limiting conditions of the water type.     

Coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Southern North Sea waters: Optical characterization and possible origin

The variability and origin of the Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were studied in the Belgian coastal and adjacent areas including offshore waters and the Scheldt estuary, through the parameters: absorption at 375 nm, a_CDOM(375), and the slope of the absorption curve, S. a_CDOM(375) varied between 0.20 and 1.31 m⁻¹ and between 0.97 and 4.30 m⁻¹ in the marine area and Scheldt estuary, respectively. S fluctuated between 0.0101 and 0.0203 nm⁻¹ in the marine area and between 0.0167 and 0.0191 nm⁻¹ in the Scheldt estuary. The comparative analysis of a_CDOM(375) and S variations evidenced different origins of CDOM in the BCZ. The Scheldt estuarine waters showed decreasing a_CDOM(375) values with increasing salinity but constant S value of ∼0.018 nm⁻¹ suggesting a dominant terrestrial origin of CDOM. On the contrary, samples collected in the marine domain showed a narrow range of a_CDOM(375) but highly variable S suggesting the additional presence of autochthonous sources of CDOM. This source was evidenced based on the sorting of the marine offshore data according to the stage of the phytoplankton bloom when they were collected. A clear distinction was made between CDOM released during the growth stage characterized by high S (∼0.017 nm⁻¹) and low a_CDOM(375) and the decay phase characterized by low S (∼0.013 nm⁻¹) and high a_CDOM(375). This observation was supported by CDOM measurements performed on pure phytoplankton cultures which showed increased CDOM release along the wax and wane of the bloom but decreasing S. We concluded that the high variability of the CDOM signature in offshore waters is explained by the local biological production and processing of CDOM.     

莱州湾荧光溶解有机物的时空分布

利用三维荧光光谱-平行因子分析法(EEMs-PARAFAC)技术结合多元统计方法研究了莱州湾海域春季(2020年5月)和秋季(2020年10月)荧光溶解有机物(FDOM)的来源及时空分布特征。结果显示莱州湾海域FDOM由2类共4个荧光组分组成:C1、C4为类蛋白质组分,分别为色氨酸和酪氨酸; C2、C3为类腐殖质组分。并对各组分的来源及分布特征分析:春季FDOM分布主要受到陆源输入的影响,其中表层C1、C2、C3也受微生物活动影响。秋季表层C1、C2、C3分布受到陆源输入和浮游植物生产共同影响,秋季表层C4主要受生物现场生产影响,秋季底层C1、C2、C3主要受陆源输入影响,C4受陆源输入和浮游植物生产共同影响。各荧光组分在表层的季节性差异主要是由于春季部分FDOM经陆源输入后受偏南风作用,在莱州湾西部及南部海域扩散。FDOM在底层的季节性差异主要由于受到沉积物再悬浮的影响。HIX高值分布表明莱州湾西部和南部FDOM受陆源输入影响显著,BIX高值分布表明莱州湾远海FDOM受生物活动影响程度较高。总体上,陆源输入影响莱州湾FDOM分布的主要因素。     

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...     

威海市褚岛北部海域CDOM和COD分布特征遥感分析

根据2017年7月和9月在山东威海褚岛北部海域现场测量的COD_(Mn)(Chemical oxygen demand)值和水体表观光学量,结合COMS(Communication,OceanMeteorological Satellite)上搭载的传感器GOCI(Geostationary Ocean Color Imager)所提供的有色可溶性有机物(Chromophoric dissolved organic matter,CDOM)产品,利用星地同步观测数据对现有的基于遥感反射比反演CDOM的模式进行验证,确定适合该海域的CDOM浓度遥感反演模式;通过对测试海域化学需氧量与遥感反演的水体CDOM浓度相关性分析,建立利用CDOM反演COD_(Mn)的遥感模式,并将该模式应用于测试海域LANDSAT 8/OLI(Operational Land Imager)遥感图像上,获取该海域COD_(Mn)浓度专题图,基于这些专题图分析了测试海域COD_(Mn)时空分布特征。结果表明:(1)基于GOCI产品的CDOM浓度值随时间和站点动态变化大,离岸越近数值越高,同一地点水体前后相差近1 h的数值变化也较大;(2)基于LANDSAT 8/OLI遥感数据反演的COD_(Mn)浓度时间动态变化大,总体来看褚岛附近水体的COD_(Mn)含量相对较低,褚岛以北海域水体COD_(Mn)含量有所增加,褚岛西侧水体的COD_(Mn)含量较东侧水体COD_(Mn)含量来说整体偏高。     

夏季长江口南北支溶解有机质的比较

本文以2021年5月长江口南北支采集的表层水为研究对象,通过测定氢、氧同位素,溶解有机碳(DOC)浓度,有色溶解有机质(CDOM)的吸收光谱和荧光光谱参数,探讨了夏季长江口北支、南支(北港、北槽、南槽)水体溶解有机质的组成、分布及其影响因素。沿长江下游到河口近海,南、北支DOC浓度分别为1.68±0.16 mg/L和1.46±0.31mg/L,CDOM的吸光系数a350分别为2.37±0.61 m^-1和1.59±0.24 m^-1。南支整体具有“高类腐殖质、低类蛋白”的特征,北支则具有“低类腐殖质、低类蛋白”的特征,这可能与南北支的径流量差异有关。在南北支不同分汊河道(北支、南支北港、南支北槽和南支南槽)中,南槽和北支有类似的海水入侵特征,但南槽具有较强的类蛋白组分输入,而南支北港和北槽样品间无显著差异,均表现为河流有机质为主的特征。对比2011年长江南北支DOC和CDOM数据显示,作为长江主河道的南支在2021年无明显变化,而北支有显著的变化。这些结果综合表明长江口DOM的变化格局可能受水动力条件(径流量)、人类活动因素共同作用的影响。比较全...     

Chemical properties of colored dissolved organic matter in the sea-surface microlayer and subsurface water of Jiaozhou Bay, China in autumn and winter

The distribution and chemical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Jiaozhou Bay, China were examined during four cruises in 2010-2011. The influence of freshwater and industrial and municipal sewage along the eastern coast of the bay was clearly evident as CDOM levels (defined as a 305 ), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were well correlated with salinity during all the cruises. Moreover, DOC concentrations were significantly correlated with chlorophyll a concentrations in the surface microlayer as well as in the subsurface water. The concentrations of DOC and CDOM displayed a gradually decreasing trend from the northwestern and eastern coast to the central bay, and the values and gradients of their concentrations on the eastern coast were generally higher than those on the western coast. In addition, CDOM and DOC levels were generally higher in the surface microlayer than in the subsurface water. In comparison with DOC, CDOM exhibited a greater extent of enrichment in the microlayer in each cruise, with average enrichment factor (E F ) values of 1.38 and 1.84, respectively. Four fluorescent components were identified from the surface microlayer and subsurface water samples and could be distinguished as peak A, peak T, peak B and peak M. For all the cruises, peak A levels were higher in the surface microlayer than in the subsurface water. This pattern of variation might be attributed to the terrestrial input.     

西太平洋秋季130°E断面有色溶解有机物的分布特征及光降解行为研究

对2018年秋季西太平洋130°E断面上层水体有色溶解有机物(CDOM)的光学特性及光降解行为进行了研究。结果表明,西太平洋上层水体CDOM的吸收系数a(320)变化范围为0.025～0.64 m^-1,平均值为(0.20±0.08) m^-1;a(320)在表层相对较低,主要与表层CDOM的光漂白去除有关;在100～200 m水层较高,主要与次表层的生物活动有关。利用三维荧光光谱-平行因子分析技术,识别出两种荧光组分:类酪氨酸组分C1和海洋类腐殖质组分C2。C1主要源于棉兰老冷涡-上升流所带来的营养物质对浮游植物生产活动和微生物活动的促进作用;C2主要源于黑潮所带来的海洋类腐殖的输入。光化学降解实验发现,CDOM吸收值的损失主要发生在紫外波段;光照60 h后,类酪氨酸组分相较于海洋类腐殖质组分更易发生光降解;且光降解是西太平洋海域CDOM的重要去除途径。     

Tracing dissolved organic matter cycling in the eastern boundary of the temperate North Atlantic using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy

Apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption spectra, and CDOM fluorescence characteristic of aromatic amino acids (excitation/emission 280 nm/320 nm; F(280/320)) and marine-humic like substances (320 nm/410 nm; F(320/410)) were measured in full depth during a cruise in the temperate Eastern North Atlantic (ENA). An optimum multi-parameter (OMP) inverse method was run to calculate water mass proportion-weighted average (archetypal) concentrations of these chemical parameters for all water masses and samples. Archetypal concentrations retain the variability due to water mass mixing and basin scale mineralization from the water mass formation sites to the study area. Conversely, the difference between measured and archetypal concentrations, retain the variability due to dissimilarities in mineralization processes within the study area. Our analysis indicates that DOC supported 26±3% of the AOU in the dark temperate ENA and that basin scale processes occurring at and from the formation area of the water masses explained 63% of the total DOC variability. Our data also suggests that DOC remineralized at the basin scale was of lower molecular weight, and with a lower proportion of fluorescent aromatic amino acids than found within the study area. The relationship between the absorption coefficient at 254 nm (a_CDOM(254)) and AOU indicates that a_CDOM(254) was consumed during organic matter remineralization in the dark ocean, with 55% of the variability being explained by basin scale processes. The relationships of F(320/410) with AOU and DOC confirmed that marine humic-like substances are produced by microbial degradation processes, at a rate of 6.1±0.9×10⁻³ mg equivalents of QS mol AOU⁻¹. Our results also indicate that basin-scale remineralization processes account for 85% of the total variability of F(320/410), emphasizing that large scale processes control the formation of humic-like substance in the dark ENA.     

CDOM and its contribution to the underwater light climate of a shallow, microtidal estuary in south-western Australia

Light attenuation (K_d) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), total suspended solids (TSS) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) were measured at nine stations along an estuarine gradient in the Swan River, Western Australia, over 15 months. There were strong spatial gradients associated with the marine-freshwater transition along the 32 km of estuary sampled, as well as seasonal gradients mainly associated with rainfall, 80% of which occurs between May and September. CDOM absorbances at 440 nm reached a maximum of 10.9 m⁻¹ with the freshwater inflow but concentrations of suspended matter remained low throughout the sampling period (1.0–21.0 mg l⁻¹) under the diurnal tides of the estuary. CDOM was the dominant constituent of K_d and a stepwise multiple regression showed that 66% (p < 0.0001) of the variation in K_d can be explained by CDOM and an additional 8% (p < 0.0001) by TSS. As a consequence of this result, analysis into the influence of river discharge rates on CDOM absorbance levels was examined for 2002 using data collected during this study, and for 2000 and 2001 using historical dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and river discharge data. The outcome of this analysis infers that greater river discharge rates result in increased CDOM absorbances in the Swan River estuary.     

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.