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The optical characterization of chromophoric dissolved organic matter using wavelength distribution of absorption spectral slopes
Author(s) -
Loiselle Steven A.,
Bracchini Luca,
Dattilo Arduino M.,
Ricci Maso,
Tognazzi Antonio,
Cózar Andres,
Rossi Claudio
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2009.54.2.0590
Subject(s) - colored dissolved organic matter , spectral slope , wavelength , dissolved organic carbon , absorption (acoustics) , environmental science , spectral power distribution , spectral line , chemistry , environmental chemistry , physics , optics , phytoplankton , organic chemistry , astronomy , nutrient
We use a new approach to characterize the absorption characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in standard solutions and in several tropical lake ecosystems (Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Laguna Ibera). Compared with the common methods where a single slope of CDOM absorption spectrum is determined over a broad spectral region, we estimate the variations in spectral slope as a function of wavelength from 200 to 700 nm. Hence, our results show a distribution of spectral slope, referred to as the spectral slope curve, S λ , which was used to identify similarities between lakes and standard solutions as well as to show the wavelength intervals in which photodegradation modifies spectral slope. In contrast to the plethora of wavelength intervals and ratios presented in the CDOM literature, a comparison of spectral slope curves between ecosystems provides a potentially important tool to examine the characteristics of CDOM in a consistent manner.