Distribution, characteristics and potential impacts of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay, Canada

The characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were studied in Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait in the Canadian Arctic. Hudson Bay receives a disproportionately large influx of river runoff. With high dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations in Arctic rivers the influence of CDOM on coastal and ocean systems can be significant, yet the distribution, characteristics and potential consequences of CDOM in these waters remain unknown. We collected 470 discrete water samples in offshore, coastal, estuarine and river waters in the region during September and October 2005. Mixing of CDOM appeared conservative with salinity, although regional differences exist due to variable DOM composition in the rivers discharging to the Bay and the presence of sea-ice melt, which has low CDOM concentrations and low salinity. There were higher concentrations of CDOM in Hudson Bay, especially in coastal waters with salinities < 28, due to river runoff. Using CDOM composition of water masses as a tracer for the freshwater components revealed that river runoff is largely constrained to nearshore waters in Hudson Bay, while sea-ice melt is distributed more evenly in the Bay. Strong inshore-offshore gradients in the bio-optical properties of the surface waters in the Hudson Bay cause large variation in penetration of ultraviolet radiation and the photic depth within the bay, potentially controlling the vertical distribution of biomass and occurrence of deep chlorophyll maxima which are prevalent only in the more transparent offshore waters of the bay. The CDOM distribution and associated photoprocesses may influence the thermodynamics and stratification of the coastal waters, through trapping of radiant heating within the top few meters of the water column. Photoproduction of biologically labile substrates from CDOM could potentially stimulate the growth of biomass in Hudson Bay coastal waters. Further studies are needed to investigate the importance of terrestrial DOM in the Hudson Bay region, and the impact of hydroelectric development and climate change on these processes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.