Resolving the variability in dissolved organic matter fluorescence in a temperate estuary and its catchment using PARAFAC analysis

• DOI: 10.4319/lo.2005.50.2.0686
• Publication Date: 2010-07-01T22:15:31Z
• Authors: Colin A. Stedmon; Stiig Markager
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy combined with PARAFAC analysis provides a fast and effective method of characterizing the fluorescent fraction of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Fluorescence measurements can be used as a tracer for quantitative and qualitative changes occurring in the DOM pool as a whole. An earlier study found that the fluorescence signal could be modeled by five fractions. This study presents an analysis on a considerably larger data set (>1,200 samples) resulting from a 1-yr sampling program in Horsens Estuary, Denmark. Eight fluorescent fractions were identified. Four biogenic terrestrial, two anthropogenic, and two protein-like fractions were identified. Analysis of covariation between the components identified source-specific fractions and the presence of common factors controlling the composition of terrestrial DOM exported from different catchments.