CDOM during the Gulf of Mexico - East Coast Carbon (GOMECC) Cruise: Using Spectra for Remote Photochemical Estimates
Heather
E.
Reader, University of Georgia, hereader@uga.edu
William
L.
Miller, University of Georgia, bmiller@uga.edu
(Presenting)
Joe
Salisbury, University of New Hampshire, joe.salisbury@unh.edu
Jennifer
St. Louis, University of New Hampshire, jennifer.stlouis@uhn.edu
Amanda
Plagge, University of New Hampshire, amanda.plagge@unh.edu
Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) is responsible for light attenuation in the ocean, provides the basis for oceanic photochemical processes and is important for remote sensing applications. Understanding CDOM variability in the ocean is important for quantifying UV-dependent processes such as photochemistry. CDOM is characterized by its absorption spectrum with the 'amount' of CDOM present defined by absorption at certain wavelengths. The absorbance spectrum shape, commonly reported as spectral slope coefficient (S), relates to types and sources of CDOM. CDOM samples were taken within and below the mixed layer in coastal waters from Texas to Maine as part of the GOMECC cruise (July 10 to August 4, 2007). Samples were 0.2µm filtered and refrigerated until spectrophotometric measurement of absorbance spectra. S values ranged from 12-28 (avg = 20). Concurrent samples were taken for studies of CO and CO2 photochemical production efficiency. These data represent a unique 'snapshot' of CDOM spatial variability along the Gulf of Mexico and US East Coast that will prove useful for verification of remote sensing CDOM estimates and as a driver for regional-scale photochemical models.
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