CDOM (Dissolved Organic Matter)
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a mixture of soluble organic compounds and is an essential component of biochemical cycling. In aquatic systems it controls nutrient availability, UV light penetration, metal availability and transport, ecosystem productivity and can create disinfectant by-products during water treatment processes. CDOM, or Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter, represents a large proportion of the total DOM pool particularly terrestrially derived humic and fulvic acids. Due to the light absorption (often fluorescent) properties of CDOM, concentrations can be accurately measured in-situ using submersible optical sensors.