Abstract
Spatial and temporal variability of the absorption properties of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Taiwan Strait was investigated in summer (July to August of 2006) and winter (from December 2006 to January of 2007) seasons. The CDOM absorption coefficient at 280 nm (a 280) showed a decreasing trend from nearshore to offshore areas while the spectral slope coefficient parameter calculated between wavelengths 275–295 nm (S 275–295) showed an increase, indicative of decreasing aromaticity and molecular weight of the CDOM. The average a 280 in winter (1.47±0.50 m−1) was significantly higher than in summer (1.10±0.41 m−1), while the average S 275–295 in winter (26.7±5.2 µm−1) was significantly lower than in summer (30.6±5.5 µm−1), demonstrating clear seasonal variation in CDOM abundance and properties in the Taiwan Strait. A three-endmember conservative mixing model showed that local terrestrial CDOM inputs from several rivers along the western coast were small (<5%). However, the distribution of CDOM in the Taiwan Strait is mainly controlled by water mass movement [i.e., the Zhe-min Coastal Current (ZCC) and the Kuroshio Branch Current (KBC) in winter and the South China Sea Water (SCSW) in summer]. Biological activity was also an important factor affecting the distribution of CDOM in the offshore region in summer months.
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Foundation item: Scientific Research Foundation of Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration under contract No. TIO 2009007; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41276064; Fujian Provincial Surveys of Marine Chemistry in Coastal Waters and Harbours under contract No. FJ908-04-07; River Basin-Estuary Ecological Security Assessment and Management Strategy under contract No. 200805064; the National 908 Surveys of Marine Chemistry in Coastal Waters under contract No. 908-ZC-I-03; the Fujian Provincial 908 Project under contract No. FJ-01-01-HS(chemistry).
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Lin, H., Guo, W., Hu, M. et al. Spatial and temporal variability of colored dissolved organic matter absorption properties in the Taiwan Strait. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 31, 98–106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-012-0240-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-012-0240-x