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Aquatic Humic Substances pp 93–105Cite as

Climatic and Hydrologic Control of DOM Concentration and Quality in Lakes

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Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 133))

Abstract

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a poorly-defined mixture of mainly naturally occurring substances in water. However, it has operational and qualitative properties that have significant effects on aquatic ecosystems. Operationally, DOM passes through most common filters and is composed mainly of organic matter. DOM is a significant source of carbon fueling microbial metabolism (Wetzel et al. 1995) and attenuates significantly the penetration of photosynthetically active and damaging ultraviolet radiation (Scully & Lean 1994; Schindler et al. 1996). Climate affects DOM by altering the rates or quality of DOM loading, and the rates of in situ loss or transformation (Schindler et al. 1992; Curtis & Schindler 1997). Concentrations of DOM in lake waters depend on loading, in situ loss and production, and on dilution or concentration from exchange of water directly with the atmosphere (precipitation and evaporation). Thus, quality of organic matter in surface waters depends on biologic and hydrologic properties of the system and on regional climate.

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Authors
  1. P. Jefferson Curtis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Div. Limnology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1027, Blindern, 0315, Oslo, Norway

    Dag O. Hessen

  2. Department of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden

    Lars J. Tranvik

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Curtis, P.J. (1998). Climatic and Hydrologic Control of DOM Concentration and Quality in Lakes. In: Hessen, D.O., Tranvik, L.J. (eds) Aquatic Humic Substances. Ecological Studies, vol 133. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03736-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03736-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08362-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03736-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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