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 (non-utilizable) 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) breakdown of DOM in the sea surface. Important breakdown products include biologically utilizable compounds, especially low molecular weight (LMW) carboxylic acids, formate and acetate, and alpha keto acids glyoxylate and pyruvate. Therefore, we used 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, integrated with a sea-going program, SOLARS, was used 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, we determined that the photochemical production of these compounds, when completed to their biological turnover, plays a major role in the geochemical cycling in the sea.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA240198
Entities
People
- Kenneth Mopper
Organizations
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science