Access

Letter

Nature Geoscience 1, 579–582 (1 September 2008) | doi:10.1038/ngeo279

Production of bio-refractory fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the ocean|[nbsp]|interior

Youhei Yamashita & Eiichiro Tanoue

Dissolved organic matter in the ocean constitutes one of the largest pools of reduced carbon on the Earth|[rsquo]|s surface, but its role in the global carbon cycle is poorly understood. A large part of this pool is thought to be of marine origin and to be composed of constituents that are resistant to biological degradation.