Tracing of dissolved organic matter from the Sepetiba Bay (Brazil) by PARAFAC analysis of total luminescence matrices

Fluorescent excitation-emission matrices (FEEM) of the fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) are widely used for DOM characterization and tracing. In this work, a set of FEEM from sampling campaigns in the Sepetiba Bay (Brazil) was decomposed into independent components using the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) algorithm. Four independent components were extracted describing the total fluorescence of the FDOM. The well described peaks A, C, M, B and T were found, and a new peak, A', linked to the C peak, was detected. Relative contribution of each of four components to the total fluorescence confirms that the coastal water has DOM of terrestrial origin, except for the 275Ex/400-500Em range (nm), which primarily occurs in marine waters.     

Fluorescence of dissolved organic matter as a marker for distribution of desalinated waters in the Kara Sea and bays of Novaya Zemlya archipelago

The optical properties and distribution of dissolved organic matter in the surface waters of the Kara Sea and bays of Novaya Zemlya archipelago were studied during the 63th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. The fluorescence of dissolved organic matter has been studied over wide excitation (230–550 nm) and emission (240–650 nm) wavelength ranges. Based on the results of fluorescence measurements, we propose a simple technique for estimating the relative content of humic compounds entering the Kara Sea shelf region with Ob and Yenisei river runoff. We have found that the blue shift parameters of the DOM fluorescence are Δ_270–310 = 28 ± 2 nm and Δ_355–310 = 29 ± 2 nm. The highest contents of humic compounds in surface waters were measured on the transect across the desalinated layer of the Kara Sea, near the continental slope on the transect along the St. Anna Trough, and in the area of Sedova, Oga and Tsivol’ki bays. Traces of labile terrigenous organic matter were found in the region of the Voronin Trough, in the bays of the Severny Island of Novaya Zemlya, as well as in some freshwater reservoirs and ice samples of the archipelago. We established a conservative distribution of dissolved organic matter, whose content in water varied from 1.25 to 8.55 mg/L.     

Contrasting complexing capacity of dissolved organic matter produced during the onset,development and decay of a simulated bloom of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum

The capacity of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) produced during the onset, development and decay of a simulated bloom of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum to complex free copper has been followed for a 2 week period. Copper binding capacity of the culture was measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) with a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and two fluorophores, M (humic-like, Ex/Em: 320 nm/410 nm) and T (protein-like, Ex/Em: 280 nm/350 nm), were followed during the course of the incubation. Models using DOC concentrations alone could not accurately predict the complexing capacity of the culture, especially at the end of the bloom, and better predictions were obtained when fluorescence measurements were considered. They were helpful in characterising two types of copper ligands produced in the culture. The first type, traced by the fluorescence of peak T, was related to labile DOC directly exuded by phytoplankton. The second type, traced by the fluorescence of peak M, was the refractory humic-like material presumably produced in situ as a by-product of the bacterial degradation of phytogenic materials. During the onset and development of the bloom (days 0 to 7), the fluorescence of peak T explains 60–80% of the total complexing capacity of the culture, suggesting that exuded “protein-like” compounds among other exuded complexing agents efficiently complexed free copper. On the contrary, during the decay (days 8 to 13), these ligands were replaced by humic substances as the complexing agent for copper.     

Dynamics of particle export on the Northwest Atlantic margin

The Northwest Atlantic margin is characterized by high biological productivity in shelf and slope surface waters. In addition to carbon supply to underlying sediments, the persistent, intermediate depth nepheloid layers emanating from the continental shelves, and bottom nepheloid layers maintained by strong bottom currents associated with the southward flowing Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC), provide conduits for export of organic carbon over the margin and/or to the interior ocean. As a part of a project to understand dynamics of particulate organic carbon (POC) cycling in this region, we examined the bulk and molecular properties of time-series sediment trap samples obtained at 968 m, 1976 m, and 2938 m depths from a bottom-tethered mooring on the New England slope (water depth, 2988 m). Frequent occurrences of higher fluxes in deep relative to shallower sediment traps and low Δ¹⁴C values of sinking POC together provide strong evidence for significant lateral transport of aged organic matter over the margin. Comparison of biogeochemical properties such as aluminum concentration and flux, and iron concentration between samples intercepted at different depths shows that particles collected by the deepest trap had more complex sources than the shallower ones. These data also suggest that at least two modes of lateral transport exist over the New England margin. Based on radiocarbon mass balance, about 30% (±10%) of sinking POC in all sediment traps is estimated to be derived from lateral transport of resuspended sediment. A strong correlation between Δ¹⁴C values and aluminum concentrations suggests that the aged organic matter is associated with lithogenic particles. Our results suggest that lateral transport of organic matter, particularly that resulting from sediment resuspension, should be considered in addition to vertical supply of organic matter derived from primary production, in order to understand carbon cycling and export over continental margins.     

Resuspension-induced partitioning of organic carbon between solid and solution phases from a river–ocean transition

Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the net exchange of organic carbon (OC) between sediments and overlying water during episodes of resuspension. Surface sediment samples collected from six locations within the Hudson River Estuary and the Inner New York Bight were resuspended in their respective bottom waters for periods ranging from 30 s to 2 h. After resuspension, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration generally reached levels greater than that predicted by conservative mixing of pore water and bottom water, indicating net release of OC from the sediment particles. The amount of OC released during the 1-h extractions comprised ≤0.1% of the total sediment pool, but correlated positively (R²=0.65, P<0.052) with the amount of particulate organic carbon (POC) found in the high-density fraction of the sediment matrix. This suggests that the mineral-bound fraction of sedimentary OC was the major source for the excess DOC released into solution, and that across various sedimentary environments, only a small (but fairly constant) fraction of the total sedimentary POC may be poised for rapid transfer to the water column.     

Vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Southern Ocean

The vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), determined by fluorescence intensity at 320 nm excitation and 420 nm emission, were clarified in nine stations on two transects at the Southern Ocean, including a subtropical, subantarctic, polar frontal and Antarctic zone. All vertical profiles of fluorescence intensity showed that levels were lowest in the surface waters, increased with increasing the depth in mid-depth waters ( 2000 m), and then stayed within a relatively narrow range from there to the bottom. Such vertical profiles of FDOM were similar to those of nutrients, but were adverse to dissolved oxygen. In water columns below the temperature-minimum subsurface water (dichothermal waters) in the Antarctic zone and below the winter mixed layer in the other zones, we determined the relationships of fluorescence intensity to concentrations of nutrients and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) over the entire area of the present study, and found significant linear correlations between the levels of fluorescence intensity and nutrient concentrations (r =  0.70 and 0.71 for phosphate and nitrate + nitrite, respectively) and AOU (r = 0.91). From the strong correlation coefficient between fluorescence intensity and AOU, we concluded that FDOM in the Southern Ocean is formed in situ via the biological oxidation of organic matter. The regeneration of the nutrients/consumption of the oxygen/formation of FDOM was active in mid-depth waters. However, the correlations between fluorescence intensities and nutrients and AOU were different in the mid-depth water masses, Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), indicating that the sources of organic matter responsible for FDOM formation were different. A considerable amount of FDOM in the SAMW is thought to be produced by the remineralization of DOM in addition to sinking particulate organic matter, while DOM is less responsible for FDOM formation in the AAIW.     

Characterization of marine and terrestrial DOM in seawater using excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy

High-resolution fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) in concentrated and unconcentrated water samples from a wide variety of freshwater, coastal and marine environments. Several types of fluorescent signals were observed, including humic-like, tyrosine-like, and tryptophan-like. Humic-like fluorescence consisted of two peaks, one stimulated by UV excitation (peak A) and one by visible excitation (peak C). For all samples, the positions of both excitation and emission maxima for peak C were dependent upon wavelength of observation, with a shift towards longer wavelength emission maximum at longer excitation wavelength and longer wavelength excitation maximum at longer emission wavelength. A trend was observed in the position of wavelength-independent maximum fluorescence () for peak C, with maximum at shorter excitation and emission wavelengths for marine samples than for freshwater samples. Mean positions of these maxima were: rivers = nm; coastal water = nm; marine shallow transitional = nm; marine shallow eutrophic = nm; and marine deep = nm. Differences suggest that the humic material in marine surface waters is chemically different from humic material in the other environments sampled. These results explain previous conflicting reports regarding fluorescence properties of DOM from natural waters and also provide a means of distinguishing between water mass sources in the ocean.     

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。     

Turbid bottom water layer and bottom sediment in the Seto Inland Sea

Measurement of the vertical distribution of total suspended matter (TSM) was carried out during summer throughout the Seto Inland Sea. TSM concentration near the bottom is influenced significantly by water movement and turbid bottom water is observed in all areas where median grain size (Md) of the bottom sediment is more than 47gf. The high concentration of TSM near the bottom may be due to resuspension of the surface layer of bottom sediments. Comparison of the organic content of the resuspended matter with that of the bottom sediment shows that the resuspended matter contains more organic matter with a lower C : N ratio than the bottom sediment. The C : N ratio of the resuspended matter is similar to that of TSM in the surface layer of the water column. It is thought that TSM in surface waters sinks and settles on the surface of the bottom sediment. This deposited material is then easily resuspended in the water column by tidal currents before becoming permanently incorporated into the bottom sediment.     

Internal recycling of particle reactive organic chemicals in the Chesapeake Bay water column

Hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) may be used as tracers of particle dynamics in aquatic systems. Internal cycling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in the mesohaline Chesapeake Bay to assess the role of resuspension in maintaining particle and contaminant inventories in the water column, and to compare settling and suspended particle characteristics. Direct measurements of sediment resuspension and settling conducted in conjunction with one of the sediment trap deployments indicate reasonable agreement between measurements of particle flux using the two different methods. Organic carbon and PCB concentrations in settling solids collected in near-surface sediment traps were remarkably lower than concentrations in suspended particles collected by filtration during the trap deployments, but higher PAH concentrations were found in the settling particles. The different behaviors of PAHs and PCBs in the settling particles are due to their different source types and association to different types of particles. Sediment trap collections in near bottom waters were dominated by resuspension. Resuspension fluxes of HOCs measured 2 m above the bay bottom were as high as 2.5 μg/m² day for total PCBs and 15 μg/m² day for fluoranthene, and were 25 and 10 times higher than their settling fluxes from surface waters, respectively. HOC concentrations in the near bottom traps varied much less between trap deployments than HOC concentrations in the surface traps, indicating that the chemical composition of the resuspended particles collected in the near bottom traps was more time-averaged by repeated resuspension than the surface particles.     

Synchronous fluorescence spectra of natural waters: tracing sources of dissolved organic matter

The fluorescence of North Carolina river samples observed simultaneously by scanning excitation and emission wavelengths at a fixed wavelength difference of 25 nm produced synchronous spectra characteristic of each sample's dissolved organic matter. Examination of the spectra of two river samples for pH, copper, magnesium and ferric iron effects revealed that the metals affect only fluorescence intensity whereas pH alters both intensity and spectral shape. Mixtures of up to four rivers were resolved using linear regression analysis and the synchronous spectrum of each component in the mixture. A similar analysis of field samples may be useful for tracing the source, circulation and mixing of dissolved organic matter in coastal waters, lakes or estuaries.     

Enzyme activities in the Delaware Estuary affected by elevated suspended sediment load

Extracellular enzyme activities were compared among surface water, bottom water, and sediments of the Delaware Estuary using six fluorescently labeled, structurally distinct polysaccharides to determine the effects of suspended sediment transport on water column hydrolytic activities. Potential hydrolysis rates in surface waters were also measured for the nearby shelf. Samples were taken in December 2006, 6 months after a major flood event in the Delaware Basin that was followed by high freshwater run-off throughout the fall of 2006. All substrates were hydrolyzed in sediments and in the water column, including two (pullulan and fucoidan) that previously were not hydrolyzed in surface waters of the Delaware estuary. At the time of sampling, total particulate matter (TPM) in surface waters at the lower bay, bay mouth, and shelf ranged between 31 mg l⁻¹ and 48 mg l⁻¹ and were 2 to 20 times higher than previously reported. The presence of easily resuspended sediments at the lower bay and bay mouth indicated enhanced suspended sediment transport in the estuary prior to our sampling. Bottom water hydrolysis rates at the two sites affected by sediment resuspension were generally higher than those in surface waters from the same site. Most notably, fucoidan and pullulan hydrolysis rates in bay mouth bottom waters were 22.6 and 6.2 nM monomer h⁻¹, respectively, and thus three and five times higher than surface water rates. Our data suggest that enhanced mixing processes between the sediment and the overlying water broadened the spectrum of water column hydrolases activity, improving the efficiency of enzymatic degradation of high molecular weight organic matter in the water with consequences for organic matter cycling in the Delaware estuary.     

Optical Characteristics and Distribution of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Onega Bay (White Sea) during the Summer Season (Findings from an Expedition from June 22 to 26, 2015)

Onega Bay waters are characterized by a high content of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The absorbance spectra and fluorescence intensity (excitation wavelength 455 nm, emission wavelength >680 nm) were used to assess the distribution of CDOM content in water filtered through a GF/F filter. The CDOM content at different points in Onega Bay showed more than a fourfold difference, as inferred from the measured values. The CDOM content in surface waters was, as a rule, higher than in the deeper horizons. A higher CDOM content was measured near the Onega River, near the middle part of the Onega shore, and near the Pomor shore opposite the town of Belomorsk. River runoff is the major source of CDOM in Onega Bay water. The CDOM chemical composition in Onega Bay waters was heterogeneous. The ratio of the fluorescence intensity to the absorbance value was higher near the mouths of rivers and in intensive mixing zones than in water characterized by high salinity. A highly significant linear correlation (R² = 0.7825) between water salinity and CDOM fluorescence intensity was demonstrated. The contribution of fluorescent compounds to river runoff CDOM is substantially higher than the contribution to the composition marine CDOM.     

后赤潮过程中现场水样的三维荧光光谱特征分析

对发生在青岛近岸水域的后赤潮过程中赤潮藻密度、藻种进行鉴别的同时,对现场水样的三维荧光光谱进行了测量,获得了一套三维特征荧光数据。分析结果表明,1）当海水中生物密度达到或接近赤潮密度时,Ex最高峰值波长位于245nm,Em最高峰值波长在445nm,激发转折波长在260nm,荧光转折波长在245nm;2）在非赤潮区,Ex...     

高原湖泊溶解有机质的三维荧光光谱特性初步研究

提要近年来,荧光光谱技术被广泛应用于研究天然水体中溶解有机质(Dissolved Organic Matter,DOM)的物理化学特性。为了理解高原湖泊中DOM的组成、荧光光谱特性及其在湖泊水体中的垂直分布情况,作者利用荧光发射光谱、三维荧光光谱研究云贵高原湖泊红枫湖和百花湖中的DOM。结果显示,高原湖泊DOM主要表现为类富里酸荧光,包括可见区和紫外区两种类型的荧光峰,各种天然水体中都有报道的类蛋白荧光在红枫湖DOM中并不明显,而在百花湖DOM中则有较强的类蛋白荧光。溶解有机质所含三种类型荧光峰(PeakA:紫外区类富里酸荧光峰;PeakB:可见区类富里酸荧光峰;PeakC:类蛋白荧光峰)的荧光强度与溶解有机碳之间没有明显的线性相关关系,可能与高原湖泊水体pH值、DOM在湖泊不同深度由于受到光降解、微生物降解等作用存在差异等因素有关。与有机质结构和成熟度有关的荧光峰比值r(A,C)在1.40—2.09范围内,红枫湖南湖、百花湖DOM样品的r(A,C)值随着水体深度有下降的趋势,而红枫湖北湖DOM的r(A,C)值则随着水体深度有较大起伏,揭示了高原湖泊水体中DOM的结构以及分布情况存在差异。另外,r(A,C)值与pH之间具有良好的正相关关系,其相关系数红枫湖南湖DOM为0.95,百花湖两个采样点DOM分别为0.67、0.75,而红枫湖北湖DOM则显示出一定的负相关性(R2=0.45)。     

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。     

白令海颗粒有机物碳、氮同位素组成及其生物地球化学意义

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of particulate organic matter(POM) were measured for samples collected from the Bering Sea in 2010 summer. Particulate organic carbon(POC) and particulate nitrogen(PN) showed high concentrations in the shelf and slope regions and decreased with depth in the slope and basin, indicating that biological processes play an important role on POM distribution. The low C/N ratio and heavy isotopic composition of POM, compared to those from the Alaska River, suggested a predominant contribution of marine biogenic organic matter in the Bering Sea. The fact that δ13C and δ15N generally increased with depth in the Bering Sea basin demonstrated that organic components with light carbon or nitrogen were decomposed preferentially during their transport to deep water. However, the high δ13C and δ15N observed in shelf bottom water were mostly resulted from sediment resuspension.     

Particle flux through the Huanghai Sea cold water mass

Settling particulate matter （SPM） was collected by using sediment traps at four stations in a survey section from Qingdao to Cheju-do, across the Huanghai Sea cold water mass （HSCWM）, in August 2002. The sediment traps were planted in three layers： the upper layer of the thermocline （ULT） above the HSCWM, the lower layer of the thermocline （LLT）, and the bottom layer of water column （BL）. To determine the particle flux, the contents of organic carbon （POC）, organic nitrogen （PON）, total carbon （PC）, and total phosphorous （PP） in SPM were analyzed, and two flux models （Ⅰ and Ⅱ） were improved to calculate the resuspension ratio, with an assumption in Model Ⅰ that the vertical flux of SPM in the LLT equals the net vertical flux of SPM in the whole water column. An X value, i.e., the fraction of the resuspension flux originating from the surficial sediments nearby the sampling station, was deduced from Model Ⅰ to estimate the contribution of lateral currents to the total resuspension flux. The results showed that inorganic particles, fecal pellets, and miscellaneous aggregates were the major types of SPM in the HSCWM, and the contents of POC, PON, PC, and PP all decreased with water depth. A great deal of fecal pellets found in the LLT indicates that the main space producing biogenic SPM is the thermocline, and especially the LLT, where the C/N ratio is lower than that in the ULT. The resuspension ratios, 90%-96% among stations, imply strong impact ofresuspension on particle flux in the BL. These values were not significantly different between the two flux models, suggesting that the hypothesis in Model Ⅰ that the flux in the LLT equaling the net flux to the bottom is acceptable for shallow waters with stratification like the HSCWM. The POC export ratio from the HSCWM ranges from 35% to 68%. It benefits from the short sinking distance in shallow water. The upwelling in the HSCWM enhanced the POC flux through the water mass, and the lateral currents provides up to being greater than 50% ofresuspension flux in the BL according to evaluation of the X value.     

Distribution et caractérisation par fluorescence de la matiére organique dissoute dans les eaux de la Manche centrale

Intensity and spectral characteristics of the fluorescence of water samples collected along the transect Cherbourg-Isle of Wight during four cruises for excitations at 370, 313 and 270 nm have been investigated within the framework of the FluxManche II program. Seasonal and spatial differences appeared to reflect on the one hand, variations in terrestrial inputs, and on the other hand, waters masses structuring. The observed linear variation of the fluorescence intensity with salinity indicates a gradual dilution of the continental humic material in going from the coasts to the central part of the English Channel. The largest signal was observed for the English coastal waters in agreement with important terrestrial inputs from the Solent river. While the fluorescence intensity was not found to be correlated with the DOC, it shows a good correlation with the nutrients. This result could indicate both a supply from terrestrial inputs and an almost simultaneous autochtonous regeneration. As similarly reported for waters in the eastern part of the French coastal zone, excitation at 313 nm gives evidence for the presence of two classes of fluorescent dissolved organic matter. These two fluorescent components are indicative of the simultaneous presence of continental humic substances and substances whose assignment to marine humic substances or to heterotrophic related substances are still an open question. As compared to the eastern part of the Channel along the French coasts, excitation at 270 nm indicates a lower content of protein-like compounds which may be related to a lower biological activity along the transect or may be due to the fact that the samplings were made out of the phytoplanktonic bloom period (April–May 1995).     

Photobleaching of fluorescence and the organic carbon concentration in a coastal environment

In order to investigate the photobleaching potential of estuarine waters from different depths and redox conditions and with varying degree of biological activity, filtered, unfiltered and chloroform-poisoned water samples from the Baltic Sea were exposed to ambient sunlight. Fluorescence, at excitation 350 nm and emission 450 nm, was used as an indication of humic substance concentration. Fluorescence and organic carbon concentration were measured at regular time intervals during light exposure. We found that the decrease in humic substance fluorescence can be fitted to an exponential decay function. The fluorescence half-lives were within the range 0.4 – 4.6 days in different water masses, with fluorescence decreasing to between 20% and 60% of initial concentration, respectively. Results from the curve fitting procedure indicate a rest concentration of humic substance fluorescence, similar among the sampled sites, that is resistant to further photochemical degradation. The largest relative decreases in fluorescence were found in deep waters, but samples from deep waters also had a higher fluorescence rest concentration than samples from surface waters. Biological activity was reduced by filtering the samples through 0.2μm pore size filters or adding chloroform. No statistically significant differences were found after 3 days of irradiation between samples with and without treatment to reduce biological activity. The highest initial fluorescence values and the largest fluorescence decrease were found in the anoxic waters of the Gotland Deep. The organic carbon concentrations decreased 3–7% at all stations. The shortest half-life of humic substance, and the largest decrease in organic carbon concentrations, were found in samples from the northern basins of the Baltic Sea.