Dissolved Organic Matter Dynamics in Groundwater, Rivers, and Lakes

Dear Colleagues,

Natural organic matter is an inherent constituent of the limnosphere. In its dissolved form, it connects large soil carbon stocks with the highly dynamic aqueous compartments of groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes. In the aqueous phase, a plethora of microbial and chemical processes then alter the amount, composition, and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM). This interplay between hydrology and biogeochemistry results in an incredibly complex mixture of organic molecules that has substantial implications for microbial utilization, freshwater ecology, and water use, e.g., during drinking water production.

Although many of these interactions have been extensively studied, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling the composition of DOM, its mobilization and export from terrestrial sources, and its biogeochemical reactivity.

This Special Issue seeks to address the dynamic nature of DOM, i.e., processes that lead to and change its molecular and structural compositions and determine its mobilization, turnover, and future significance for regional water quality and the global carbon cycle.

We invite interdisciplinary contributions from researchers studying the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon/matter in groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes around the globe. Contributions may deal with but are not limited to mechanistic field or laboratory studies, novel methods for the molecular characterization of DOM, quantitative and qualitative assessments of DOM sources, or data-driven and predictive modeling of DOM concentration, export, and turnover in catchments.

Dr. Oliver J. Lechtenfeld
Dr. Peter Herzsprung
Guest Editors

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