Abstract:

The distributions and changes of dissolved organic carbon in the Prydz Bay and outer open sea were investigated during CHINARE 15 (the 15th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expendition). The results showed that the content of DOC was higher in the Prydz Bay and outer open sea compared to those typical surface oceanic levels (70—80μM), average content of DOC in the surface water was 102.32μM, the range was 68.23—125.92μM. The vertical distribution of DOC in the water column was similar to many ocean sites, that is to say, the content of upper water is higher than deep water, a subsurface maximum persisted between 25—50m. The DOC pool in the Prydz Bay consisted of labile, semi labile and refractory pools, in which refractory pools was main part. The concentration of refractory DOC was 92.34 and 76.89μM in Prydz Bay and outer open sea, and accounted 77% and 825 for total DOC, respectively.