Relationships between dissolved black carbon and dissolved organic matter in streams

Black carbon (BC) is a pyrolyzed product derived from incomplete combustion. A major fraction of BC produced by landscape fires initially deposited onto onsite soils. Atmospheric deposition soot known to be an important source soil BC, especially in watersheds that are not affected fires. The transport the dissolved oxidized soil, defined as black (DBC), streams considered one loss pathways but mechanism well documented. We measured quantity and quality DBC, determined benzenepolycarboxylic acid method, quantitative qualitative parameters bulk organic matter (DOM) Hokkaido, northern Japan, whose catchments were fire for at least 110 years. DBC with relatively low polycondensed signatures occurred streams, irrespective differences watershed characteristics seasons, suggesting atmospheric into catchment probably stream DBC. concentration was linearly related (DOC) concentration, seasons. Furthermore, polycondensation degree observed correlate DOM. Such relationships between DOM imply transfer soils soot-derived linked higher plant-derived, high-molecular-weight aromatic