Issue 10, 2016

Linking optical properties of dissolved organic matter to multiple processes at the coastal plume zone in the East China Sea

Abstract

Because of the significance in photosynthesis, nutrient dynamics, trophodynamics and biological activity, dissolved organic matter (DOM) is important to the microbial community in the coastal plume zone. In this study, we investigated the hydrodynamic processes, photodegradation and biodegradation of DOM at the Yangtze River plume in the East China Sea through analyzing water quality and optical properties of DOM. Surface water samples were collected to examine water quality and fluorescence properties of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM). The results indicated that dilution was the key factor in the multiple processes, and the mixing process gradually increased from nearshore to offshore in coastal water. Four components of FDOM representing humic-like substances (C1 & C4) and protein-like substances (C2 & C3) were identified, and all components showed nearly conservative behaviors. Protein-like substances were more mutable compared to humic-like substances. The photodegradation of humic-like substances caused brown algae blooms to some extent. The molecular weight of humic substances gradually decreased along the mixing process. FDOM in the plume zone was both of terrigenous and autochthonous origins, and the characteristic of terrigenous origin was obvious compared to that of autochthonous origin.

Graphical abstract: Linking optical properties of dissolved organic matter to multiple processes at the coastal plume zone in the East China Sea

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 6 2016
Accepted
30 8 2016
First published
01 9 2016

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016,18, 1316-1324

Linking optical properties of dissolved organic matter to multiple processes at the coastal plume zone in the East China Sea

Y. Jiang, J. Zhao, P. Li and Q. Huang, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016, 18, 1316 DOI: 10.1039/C6EM00341A

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