Dissolved organic matter indicator parameters

On time scales of oceanic circulation (1000 y and less) the internal distribution of carbonate system parameters is modified primarily by biological processes. Gross sections of the distribution of Aj and DIG in the world s oceans (Fig. 4.4) and scatter plots of the data for these quantities as a function of depth in the different ocean basins (Fig. 4.5) indicate that the concentrations increase in deep waters (1-4 Ion) from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic and into the Indian and Pacific Oceans following the conveyer belt circulation (Fig. 1.12). Degradation of organic matter (OM) and dissolution of GaGOs cause these increases in the deep waters. The chemical character of the particulate material that degrades and dissolves determines the ratio of At to DIG. 

As indicated earlier (Section 3.1.1) the sorption of organic compounds onto dissolved matter can significantly increase the solubility of the compound. This can in turn affect the fate of these chemicals in the environment. We can use physicochemical parameters such as distribution coefficients (log D), aqueous acid dissociation constants (pAia), and octanol-water partition coefficients (p/to )-These attributes are also linked to the acidity and alkalinity of the environment as well as lipohilicity of the compound. The mathematical relationships between these attributes are outlined below to explore how each of these impacts the fate of PPCPs in the environment. 

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