Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2015, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1): 23-29.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2015.01.004CSTR: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2015.01.004

• Marine Physics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spectral properties of colored dissolved organic matter in Chinese offshore waters

ZHOU Hong-li, ZHU Jian-hua, Li Tong-ji   

  1. National Ocean Technology Center, Tianjin 300112, China
  • Received:2013-03-12 Revised:2014-05-13 Online:2015-02-10 Published:2015-02-10

Abstract: Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is an important factor that affects the optical properties of Chinese offshore waters. Based on the absorption coefficient data of CDOM from 895 stations surveyed during China’s offshore marine optical investigation, we analyzed the variation characteristics of the spectral exponential slope (Sg) of CDOM. Results show that the range of the spectral exponential slope of CDOM in Chinese offshore waters is from 0.0066 to 0.0284 nm-1. The value of Sg obeys a normal distribution in most of the study areas. The average value of Sg is 0.0142 nm-1 and its standard deviation is 0.0044 nm-1 in the whole study areas. The component of CDOM is influenced by terrigenous sediment and marine sediment in China’s offshore, and the distribution characteristics of Sg vary spatially. Except for the weak negative correlations in two areas, there is no obvious relationship between Sg and ag(440) in most of the Chinese offshore waters surveyed.

Key words: colored dissolved organic matter, absorption coefficient, exponential slope