Low Molecular Weight Carboxylic Acids in the Sea. Photooxidative Production and Biological Cycling.
Abstract
A large fraction of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater is composed of biologically refractory substances. The formation and destruction pathways of this organic matter are still unknown. One potentially important removal pathway that has not been quantified is sunlight-induced (photochemical) break down of DOM in the sea surface. Important breakdown products should include biologically utilizable compounds, especially low molecular weight (LMW) carboxylic acids, formate and acetate, and alpha-keto acids glyoxylate and pyruvate. Therefore, we propose to examine organic acid photo-production in seawater as a tool to evaluate the importance of photo-fragmentation of biologically refractory organic matter in the sea. Laboratory studies will be integrated with a sea-going program, SOLARS, to establish a broad data base for the spatial and temporal distribution of organic acids in coastal and oceanic waters. With this data base, and associated biological turnover and photochemical production measurements, it will be possible to determine the importance of photochemical production of these compounds relative to their biological turnover and geochemical cycling in the sea.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 25, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA189748
Entities
People
- Kenneth Mopper
Organizations
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science