Characterization of Optical and Associated Properties of Marine Colored Dissolved Organic Material (CDOM)

The chemical constituent of seawater that absorbs most of the incident solar radiation is collectively referred to as CDOM. CDOM is a complex aggregate of organic compounds derived from marine biota and terrestrial humic material introduced to the oceans by rivers. The photochemically active fraction initiates most of the photochemical reactions in seawater, altering CDOM itself and affecting the chemical speciation of oxygen, transition metals and various organic compounds. These reactions can have profound effects on the chemical characteristics of seawater and physical properties such as optical absorbance and luminescence. Our primary objective is to understand the differences and similarities between DOM of marine and terrestrial origin, the effects of photochemical processes on the structure and optical characteristics of CDOM and the impact these properties have on the optical characteristics of marine environments.