Amon, Rainer M. W., Kaiser, Karl and Engel, Anja (2024) Dissolved organic matter in the Arctic Ocean. In: Biogeochemistry of Marine Dissolved Organic Matter. , ed. by Hansell, Dennis A. and Carlson, Craig A.. Academic Press, London, UK, pp. 693-737. 3. edition ISBN 978-0-443-13858-4 DOI 10.1016/B978-0-443-13858-4.00017-4.

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Abstract

This chapter reviews and summarizes the state of the art of what we learned from the composition and distribution of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Arctic Ocean over the last few decades that were characterized by rapid climate change. Previous findings from the scientific literature are put in context to new insights by the authors. Most prominent features from this analysis include the wide spread occurrence of terrigenous DOM in the top ∼300 m of the Arctic Ocean with a broad band (∼1000 km wide) of elevated riverine DOM concentrations in the Transpolar Drift and the dominant role of physical processes, such as circulation and sea ice dynamics, for the pan-Arctic distribution of DOM. DOM also clearly tracks the brine fraction into the Arctic halocline, establishing DOM as a useful tracer for halocline formation. High uncertainty in DOC inflow and outflow estimates through the Arctic Ocean gateways makes a carbon mass balance difficult for the Arctic Ocean. Poor coverage of observations of primary production and especially respiration currently don’t allow for a clear determination if Arctic Ocean DOM represents a carbon sink or source for the subpolar ocean and the atmosphere.

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