The overall objective of this project is to determine the role of chemical processes associated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the transport and reactivity of both naturally occurring and anthropogenic compounds. Defining the roles of DOC in environmental and geochemical processes is critical to understanding the nature and quality of the Nation’s water resources, and is important for future management of these resources. This field of study has increased in relevancy as numerous environmental problems have been linked to processes involving organic matter. My project attempts to meet these needs by focusing on the chemical mechanisms controlling the fate, transport, and reactivity of naturally occurring organic matter in aquatic systems. Main research topics include:
- Influences of DOM on the biogeochemistry of Hg and other metals,
- Effects of hydrology and climate change on DOM in northern systems, including the Yukon River,
- Influences of terrestrially derived DOM on satellite based assessments of water quality in the Gulf of Maine, and,
- Development of improved methods for studying DOM composition and reactivity.
