Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Earth System Science Data
Volume
16
Issue
2
First Page
1107
Last Page
1119
Publisher
Copernicus Publications
School
School of Science / Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research
Funders
CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials / national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC)
Abstract
Measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON), and phosphorus (DOP) concentrations are used to characterize the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool and are important components of biogeochemical cycling in the coastal ocean. Here, we present the first edition of a global database (CoastDOM v1; available at 10.1594/PANGAEA.964012, Lonborg et al., 2023) compiling previously published and unpublished measurements of DOC, DON, and DOP in coastal waters. These data are complemented by hydrographic data such as temperature and salinity and, to the extent possible, other biogeochemical variables (e.g. chlorophyll a, inorganic nutrients) and the inorganic carbon system (e.g. dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity). Overall, CoastDOM v1 includes observations of concentrations from all continents. However, most data were collected in the Northern Hemisphere, with a clear gap in DOM measurements from the Southern Hemisphere. The data included were collected from 1978 to 2022 and consist of 62338 data points for DOC, 20356 for DON, and 13533 for DOP. The number of measurements decreases progressively in the sequence DOC > DON > DOP, reflecting both differences in the maturity of the analytical methods and the greater focus on carbon cycling by the aquatic science community. The global database shows that the average DOC concentration in coastal waters (average±standard deviation (SD): 182±314umolCL-1; median: 103umolCL-1) is 13-fold higher than the average coastal DON concentration (13.6±30.4umolNL-1; median: 8.0umolNL-1), which is itself 39-fold higher than the average coastal DOP concentration (0.34±1.11umolPL-1; median: 0.18umolPL-1). This dataset will be useful for identifying global spatial and temporal patterns in DOM and will help facilitate the reuse of DOC, DON, and DOP data in studies aimed at better characterizing local biogeochemical processes; closing nutrient budgets; estimating carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous pools; and establishing a baseline for modelling future changes in coastal waters.
DOI
10.5194/essd-16-1107-2024
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Lønborg, C., Carreira, C., Abril, G., Agustí, S., Amaral, V., Andersson, A., . . . Álvarez-Salgado, X. A. (2024). A global database of dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration measurements in coastal waters (CoastDOM v1). Earth System Science Data, 16(2), 1107-1119. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1107-2024