RUI: Temporal Variability of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Carbon (CDOM) in Rainwater: Photochemical Effects and Influence on Trace Metal Speciation

目前对雨水中的光敏溶解有机物的性质知之甚少，尽管这种物质构成了降水中存在的大部分碳。 该研究在本科院校（RUI）项目继续由这些研究人员对雨水化学的一系列研究，一个新的和新颖的重点是发色溶解有机物（CDOM）的光化学。 该过程的特征在于定量确定所选痕量金属如何影响量子效率和CDOM光降解和光漂白的速率在各种条件下的周围环境的代表。 这项研究的结果将增加对大气氧化能力、雨水中溶解有机物的命运以及生物圈/生物群对气候引起的入射紫外线辐射变化的反应的了解。 关于决定雨水中CDOM的性质、反应性和归宿的物理和化学因素的新信息将特别有助于限制新一代气候模型。 更广泛的社区影响包括将高度相关和及时的气候相关研究带到主办机构的本科课堂，从而用重要和引人入胜的现实世界问题和问题挑战下一代年轻的地球科学家。

Little is currently known as to the nature of light-sensitive dissolved organic matter in rainwater, despite such matter comprising the majority of carbon present in precipitation. This Research in Undergraduate Institution (RUI) project continues a series of studies by these investigators on rainwater chemistry, with a new and novel focus on the photochemistry of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). This process will be characterized by quantitatively determining how selected trace metals affect the quantum efficiency and rate of CDOM photodegradation and photo-bleaching under a variety of conditions representative of the ambient environment. Results from this study will increase understanding of atmospheric oxidative capacity, the fate of dissolved organic matter in rainwater, and biosphere/biota response to climate-induced changes in incident ultraviolet radiation. New information on the physical and chemical factors determining the nature, reactivity and fate of CDOM in rainwater will be especially useful for constraining new generation climate models. Broader community impacts include bringing highly relevant and timely climate-related research to the undergraduate classroom at the host institution, thereby challenging the next generation of young geoscientists with important and engaging real-world issues and problems.