Significant contribution of dissolved organic matter to seawater alkalinity
SCIE
SCOPUS
- Title
- Significant contribution of dissolved organic matter to seawater alkalinity
- Authors
- Kim, HC; Lee, K
- Date Issued
- 2009-10-20
- Publisher
- AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
- Abstract
- The present study shows a previously undocumented role of dissolved organic matter in the marine carbonate system. During photosynthesis, phytoplankton release dissolved organic compounds containing basic functional groups that readily react with protons during seawater titration, and thereby contribute to alkalinity (a measure of buffering capacity). The magnitude of the contribution of dissolved organic compounds to seawater alkalinity is species dependent, suggesting that individual phytoplankton species exude dissolved organic compounds with unique proton accepting capacities. Our study shows that dissolved organic matter produced by marine phytoplankton during photosynthesis is a newly identified buffering component in the ocean, and indicates that the contribution of dissolved organic matter to seawater alkalinity can be significant in the biologically productive upper ocean, where to date it has been unrecognized or considered insignificant. Citation: Kim, H.-C., and K. Lee (2009), Significant contribution of dissolved organic matter to seawater alkalinity, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L20603, doi: 10.1029/2009GL040271.
- Keywords
- CARBONIC-ACID; DISSOCIATION-CONSTANTS; TITRATION ALKALINITY; PHYTOPLANKTON; DIOXIDE; GROWTH; PH
- URI
- https://oasis.postech.ac.kr/handle/2014.oak/27799
- DOI
- 10.1029/2009GL040271
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- Article Type
- Article
- Citation
- GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, vol. 36, page. L20603 - L20603, 2009-10-20
- Files in This Item:
- There are no files associated with this item.
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.