Dissolved Organic Matter - Revision history

Kate Evans at 20:36, 7 January 2026

2026-01-07T20:36:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 7 January 2026
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	~~{{BreadcrumbsLexicon}}~~

	* [[Page authors\|Page authors]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]		* [[Page authors\|Page authors]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]
	* [[Responsible curator\|Responsible curator]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]		* [[Responsible curator\|Responsible curator]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]

Kate Evans at 20:36, 7 January 2026

2026-01-07T20:36:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 7 January 2026
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	{{BreadcrumbsLexicon}}		{{BreadcrumbsLexicon}}

			* [[Page authors\|Page authors]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]
			* [[Responsible curator\|Responsible curator]]: [[User:Hagi BucknWise\|Hagen Buck-Wiese]]

	== Conceptual definition ==		== Conceptual definition ==

Hagi BucknWise at 22:43, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:43:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:43, 20 November 2025
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	On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).		On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).

	== Models ==		=== Models ===
	Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor<ref>Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897</ref>, sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group<ref>Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323</ref>.		Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor<ref>Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897</ref>, sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group<ref>Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323</ref>.

Hagi BucknWise at 22:42, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:42:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 20 November 2025
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	== ~~Overview~~ ==		== Conceptual definition ==
	At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021">Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>.		At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021">Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. <br>
	DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>:
			DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]], and classified into the following groups based on their lifetime<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>:
	*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)		*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)
	*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)		*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)
Line 9:		Line 10:
	*refractory DOM (removal over centuries to millenia)		*refractory DOM (removal over centuries to millenia)

	~~__TOC__~~		== Subfield notes ==
			=== Experimental ===
	== ~~Definition by experimentalist~~ ==		On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).
	~~DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]].~~ On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).

	== ~~Definition by modeler~~ ==		== Models ==
	Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor<ref>Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897</ref>, sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group<ref>Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323</ref>.		Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor<ref>Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897</ref>, sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group<ref>Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323</ref>.

Hagi BucknWise at 22:28, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:28:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 20 November 2025
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	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days<ref>Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years<ref>Dittmar~~, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H.~~ et al. ~~Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (~~2021~~). https:/~~/~~doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref~~>.		At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021">Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>.
	DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime<ref>Dittmar~~, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H.~~ et al. ~~Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (~~2021~~). https://doi.org/10.1038~~/~~s43017-021-00183-7</ref~~>:		DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>:
	*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)		*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)
	*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)		*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)
Line 12:		Line 12:

	== Definition by experimentalist ==		== Definition by experimentalist ==
	DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]]. On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref>Dittmar~~, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H.~~ et al. ~~Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (~~2021~~). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7<~~/~~ref~~>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).		DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]]. On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref name="Dittmar et al. 2021"/>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).

	== Definition by modeler ==		== Definition by modeler ==

Hagi BucknWise at 22:25, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:25:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:25, 20 November 2025
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	== References ==		== References ==
	<references />		<references />
	1. Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109 <br>
	2. Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7 <br>
	3. Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230 <br>
	4. Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897 <br>
	~~5. Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323 <br>~~

	== Contributors ==		== Contributors ==

Hagi BucknWise at 22:24, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:24:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:24, 20 November 2025
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	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days (2). As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years (2).		At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days<ref>Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years<ref>Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>.
	DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime (2):		DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime<ref>Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>:
	*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)		*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)
	*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)		*semi-labile DOM (removal within weeks to months)
Line 12:		Line 12:

	== Definition by experimentalist ==		== Definition by experimentalist ==
	DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]]. On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes (3). This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).		DOM is operationally defined as organic carbon that flows through a [[GF/F glass fiber filter]], with the retentate on the filter being defined as [[Particulate Organic Matter]]. On a molecular level, DOM comprises thousands or even millions of unique structures<ref>Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7</ref>. Most studies investigating the molecular composition of DOM resort to [[PPL-SPE]], a moderately hydrophobic solid phase extraction technique designed to extract the largest possible amount of DOM from seawater while removing salts that can interfere with downstream analytical processes<ref>Dittmar, T., Koch, B., Hertkorn, N., Kattner, G., (2008), A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, https://doi:10.4319/lom.2008.6.230</ref>. This fraction of DOM is called SPE-DOM (3).

	== Definition by modeler ==		== Definition by modeler ==
	Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor (e.g. 4), sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group (5).		Models represent DOM as groups of organic carbon as listed above (labile, semi-labile, semi-refractory and refractory) with varying lifetime as only descriptor<ref>Kim, H. H. (2025). BATS-1D-VAR v1.0: A One-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilative Biogeochemical Model of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) Site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17148897</ref>, sometimes adding an ultra-refractory group<ref>Emily J. Zakem et al., Functional biogeography of marine microbial heterotrophs. Science388, eado5323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5323</ref>.

	== References ==		== References ==

Kate Evans at 22:17, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:17:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:17, 20 November 2025
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	== References ==		== References ==
			<references />
	1. Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109 <br>		1. Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109 <br>
	2. Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7 <br>		2. Dittmar, T., Lennartz, S.T., Buck-Wiese, H. et al. Enigmatic persistence of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nat Rev Earth Environ 2, 570–583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00183-7 <br>

Kate Evans at 22:16, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:16:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:16, 20 November 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109<ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days (2). As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years (2).		At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109</ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days (2). As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years (2).
	DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime (2):		DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime (2):
	*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)		*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)

Hagi BucknWise at 22:16, 20 November 2025

2025-11-20T22:16:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:16, 20 November 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column (1). Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days (2). As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years (2).		At approximately 662 gigatons of carbon (GtC), Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) far outnumbers [[Particulate Organic Matter]], which includes organisms and marine snow, and constitutes more than 99% of organic carbon in the ocean's water column<ref>Hansell, D.A., C.A. Carlson, D.J. Repeta, and R. Schlitzer. 2009. Dissolved organic matter in the ocean: A controversy stimulates new insights. Oceanography 22(4):202–211, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.109<ref>. Yet, most DOM released by [[phytoplankton]], the primary source of DOM, is quickly degraded by [[heterotrophy \| heterotrophs]] within hours to days (2). As a result, the majority of DOM (~630 GtC) that is found in the ocean has a lifetime (determined via [[14C-carbon dating]]) of over 16,000 years (2).
	DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime (2):		DOM is operationally classified into the following groups based on their lifetime (2):
	*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)		*labile DOM (removal within hours to days)