Concentration and Characterization of Colored Dissolved Organic Matter in the Surface Microlayer and Subsurface Water of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

Abstract

The distribution and chemical properties of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea during December 2011-January 2012 were investigated. The input of freshwater and biological activities had an evident influence on the CDOM levels (characterized by the light absorption coefficient at the wavelength of 355 nm a ₃₅₅) in the study area. The spatial distribution of CDOM levels displayed a gradually decreasing trend from the coastal waters (0.37 m ⁻¹) to the open sea (0.18 m ⁻¹). The spectral slope ratio (the slope ratio S _R defined as S _275–295:S _350–400) during the cruise was correlated with salinity, and exhibited a large variation from inshore (average of 2.515) to offshore sites (average of 5.327) compared with the distribution of a ₃₅₅. The values of S _R were related to CDOM molecular weight (MW). The a ₃₅₅, S _R, and chlorophyll a in 37 samples collected from the surface microlayer were significantly correlated with those in the corresponding subsurface water samples, implying a strong exchange action between the microlayer and bulk water. The a ₃₅₅ and S _R of CDOM exhibited significant microlayer enrichment, with mean enrichment factors (EFs) of 1.72 and 1.62, respectively.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): JOUC

Title: Journal of Ocean University of China

Publisher: Science Press and Springer (China )

ISSN (Electronic): 1672-5182

Publication date (Electronic): 07 May 2019

Publication date (Print): 01 April 2019

Volume: 18

Issue: 2

Pages: 383-393

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

² Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China

³ The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266100, China

Author notes

*Corresponding author: YANG Guipeng

Article

Publisher ID: s11802-019-3763-3

DOI: 10.1007/s11802-019-3763-3

Copyright statement: Copyright © Ocean University of China, Science Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2019.

License:

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Product

Self URI (journal-page): https://www.springer.com/journal/11802