Characterization of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the East China Sea in autumn using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC)

Samples of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the East China Sea in autumn (October in 2011) were analyzed by excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Three terrestrial humic-like components (C1, C2 and C3) and one protein-like component (C4) were identified. Based on spatial distributions, as well as relationships with salinity, the following assignments were made. The three humic-like components (C1, C2 and C3) showed conservative mixing behavior and came mainly from riverine input. The protein-like component (C4) was considered a combination of autochthonous production and terrestrial inputs and a biologically labile component. Path analysis of samples from the middle and bottom layers revealed that the causal effects on C1 were -78.46% for salinity, and -21.54% for apparent oxygen utilization (AOU); those on C2 were -76.43% for salinity, and -23.57% for AOU; those on C3 were -70.49% for salinity, 7.01% for Chl-a, and -22.50% for AOU; those on C4 were -55.54% for salinity, 14.6% for Chl-a, and -29.86% for AOU in middle layer; and those on C4 were -57.37% for salinity, 29.02% for Chl-a, and -13.61% for AOU in bottom layer. Results indicated that CDOM in the East China Sea was mainly affected by terrestrial inputs, and microbial activities also played a key role in biogeochemical processes of CDOM. The application of the EEM-PARAFAC model presented a unique opportunity to observe compositional changes in CDOM in the East China Sea. In addition, the humification index (HIX) suggested that CDOM from the East China Sea was less stable and stayed shorter in the environment.