Characterization of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea Using Excitation-Emission Matrix Spectroscopy (EEMs) and Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC)

Compositions and concentrations of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) have been determined in the Bohai Sea (BS) and the Yellow Sea (YS) in the summer and autumn in 2013 by excitation and emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The PARAFAC model identified three humic-like components (C1, C2, and C3) and one protein-like component (C4). CDOM exhibited higher fluorescence intensities in the coastal areas in both the summer and autumn. However, its distribution patterns were different in the two seasons. Based on spatial and seasonal distributions of four components, as well as correlations with salinity, chlorophyll a (Chl-a), and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), the following assignments were made. The C1, C2, and C3 components were mainly dominated by terrestrial inputs and influenced by the primary productivity of phytoplankton in the summer as well. C4 was assigned to terrestrial and autochthonous origins and most likely represented a biologically labile component. Terrestrial inputs were the dominant source of CDOM in the BS and YS. The humification index (HIX) and biological index (BIX) suggested that CDOM in the BS was more stable than that in the YS, which had an increase in autochthonous production, and in the summer, CDOM was less stable with a higher CDOM autochthonous production compared with that in the autumn.