EN24021A critical assessment of physicochemical indices used to characterise natural dissolved organic carbon (DOC), their inter-relationships, and the effects of pH
Environmental context. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is ubiquitous in freshwater and concentrations are rising universally while pH is decreasing with climate change. This study demonstrates the interrelationships among DOC characterisation techniques and the pH-sensitive aspects of these techniques that were previously not well understood. As DOC regulates important processes within ecosystems, understanding DOC behaviour at altered pH and identifying techniques to effectively evaluate DOC composition are critical requirements for monitoring aquatic ecosystem health. (Image credit: Carolyn Morris.)