In seawater particulate organic matter (POM) serves as a food source for heterotrophic bacteria and zooplankton and is a source of dissolved organic compounds and nutrients. POM plays a critical role in transporting carbon to marine sediments where a fraction of it is buried in subsurface sediments and thus avoids conversion to carbon dioxide on shorter time scales. Distribution and properties of POM were investigated in the Baltic Proper from 2013 to 2015. Particulate organic carbon (POC) was used to investigate POM sources and dynamics. Stable carbon isotopes (δ13C), elemental composition (C, N), chlorophyll a and POM contribution to suspended particulate matter (SPM) were also measured and interpreted. The water column exhibited concentrations ranging from 0.2 mg POC/l (deep water layer — DWL, cold season — CS) to 1.7 mg POC/l (surface water layer — SWL, warm season — WS). POM represented 0.15 to 0.45 of SPM during respective cold and warm seasons. Stable carbon isotopes (δ13CPOC) ranged from -22.5‰ (WS) to -28.0‰ (CS), while the POC/Chl a ratio ranged from 180 g/g (SWL-WS) to 300 g/g (DWL-CS). Seasonal changes were attributed to high primary production in the SWL during the WS, which represented a major POM source. Continuous mineralization/sedimentation through-out the water column constituted a major POM sink.
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