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.