• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.194-205
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• 2020

The characteristics and behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were determined by analyzing the molecular weight fractions and fluorescence properties of water samples in the downstream Nakdong River. Biogeochemical water quality parameters and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) were analyzed at five sampling points in the downstream area of the Nakdong River January-August 2019. The molecular weight fractions of the DOM were separated by the Liquid Chromatography-Organic Carbon Detection (LC-OCD). The DOM predominantly comprised humic substances, followed by the building blocks, low molecular weight neutrals and biopolymers. The hydrophobic (aromatic) and hydrophilic properties were shown as coexisting, as most of the SUVA_254nm values were under four. The FDOM was characterized as humic-like (FDOM_H) with allochthonous origin and protein-like (FDOM_P) with autochthonous origin; the FDOM_H with autochthonous origin was also identified. The FDOM_H relies on the aromaticity of the allochthonous organic matter and increases during summer. The FDOM_H and FDOM_P, which depend on the biodegradable dissolved organic matter from phytoplankton, were highly fluorescent in winter. The allochthonous organic matter was the dominant factor contributing to the behavior of the DOM, externally introduced to the river by rainfall. The FDOM only minimally contributed to the behavior of the DOM. It can be explained as the seasonal characteristics of the DOM, varied by the source of the organic matter.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.353-363
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• 2021

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) is referred to organic matter which absorbs efficiently solar radiation energy and fluorescence in the water column. The component and molecular structure of marine organic matter can be changed depending on the various substances and origins of organic matter, and then the organic matter has unique fluorescent properties. As the cutting-edge analytical techniques of optical measurement continuously developing from last few decades, a study on FDOM has been applied as a biogeochemical tracer to quantify the organic matter concentration and to investigate the behaviors and origins of organic matter. Especially, the marine environment around the Korean Peninsula is an ideal research area to study FDOM because of various oceanographic characteristics and the origins of organic matter. This study describes the general properties of FDOM and introduces the cycling and behaviors of marine organic matter based on the domestic research studies.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2021

In order to evaluate the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), as indicators of organic matter in the coastal environments, we measured the concentrations of DOC, FDOM, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in saline groundwater (Woljeong, Pyoseon, and Hwasun beaches) and coastal seawater (Haengwon, Gwideok, Pyoseon, and Yeongnak) in Jeju, Korea. The highest concentrations of DOC and COD in groundwater were found in Woljeong and Pyoseon, and those in coastal water were observed in Haengwon and Pyoseon, indicating that the higher concentrations of DOC and COD seem to be associated with saline groundwater-driven dissolved organic matter (DOM) and/or biogeochemical processes. According to origin and optical properties of DOM using FDOM as a tracer, proportion of humic-like FDOM, more refractory DOM, was relatively greater in the groundwater than in the coastal water. With regard to this result, there was no relationship between DOC and COD in groundwater, while DOC showed a good positive correlation (r² = 0.66) with COD in coastal water. This result indicates that COD as an indicator of assessment of DOM has a limitation in which it is difficult to quantify refractory DOM. Although DOC is a potential alternative to COD in the coastal environments, particulate organic carbon cannot be negligible due to relatively higher concentration compared to the open ocean. Therefore, the use of total organic carbon (TOC) as a replacement of COD in the coastal ocean is important, and the evaluation criterion of the TOC is necessary in order to evaluate of organic matter indicator in the various coastal environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.362-371
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• 2016

The distribution patterns of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and the chemical characteristics of CDOM in the Seomjin river estuary were investigated in March, June and July 2012 in order to determine the spatial and temporal variability of CDOM along the salinity gradient considering the effects of mixing, nutrients and Chl a. The average CDOM values were $1.0{\pm}0.3m^{-1}$, $1.3{\pm}0.4m^{-1}$, and $1.4{\pm}0.3m^{-1}$ in March, June and July, respectively. A high concentration of CDOM (greater than $1.5m^{-1}$) was found at the head of the river which decreased towards the river mouth to as low as less than $0.5m^{-1}$. The average concentrations of CDOM increased from the dry season (March and June) to the wet season (July), and the average slope values ($S_{300-500}$), which were used as indicators of CDOM characteristics and sources, were in the range of $0.013-0.018m^{-1}$. The CDOM and $S_{300-50}$ values showed that not only the concentration of CDOM but also the chemical properties of DOM clearly changed between upstream and downstream in the Seomjin river. CDOM and FDOM showed a negative correlation with salinity ($R^2$ > 0.8), and CDOM was positively correlated with FDOM. Furthermore, the mixing pattern of CDOM was confirmed as conservative for all seasons. The main environmental factors influencing the concentration of CDOM was confirmed as conservative for all seasons. The main environmental factors influencing the concentration of CDOM were salinity (mixing) and water temperature, which meant the dilution of low CDOM seawater, was the controlling factor for the spatial distribution of CDOM. Increases in water temperature seemed to induce the production of CDOM during summer (June and July) through the biological degradation of DOM either by microbial activity or photo-degradation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.712-720
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• 2022

In this study, we evaluated the production and photoreactivity of CDOM of two polar phytoplanktons - Phaeocystis antarctica and Phaeocystis pouchetii, in order to find out UV effects on phytoplanktons. In visible region, CDOM in media of both phytoplanktons under UV-R decreased during 48hrs incubation period. However, in UV region CDOM decreased 30 % in the media of P. antarctica, but increased 10% in media of P. pouchetii, compared to CDOM concentrations of control after 48 hr incubation. This result indicates that biota in polar environment would not well protected from UV-R harmful effect when P. antarctica is dominant because of loss of CDOM, but when P. pouchetii is dominant species, production of UV absorbing organic matter could play more efficiently for UV screening for marine biota. Also we confirmed that FDOM of humic substance (C-peak) produced by these phtoplanktons under UV-R stress were well matched with fluorescence characteristics of the UV-protecting compound, MAAs. This finding shows that Phaeocystis pouchetti with low photoreactivity would contribute to DOM pool of polar marine environment under stratification by global warming.