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Glossary of Chemical Oceanography Terms
Amino Acids: The building blocks of proteins.
Aromatic Acids: Compounds that contain at least one benzene ring in addition to the
carboxylic acid group. Aromatic acids are found in combination with humic
substances.
Carbohydrates: A polyhydroxy carbonyl compound. The general formula for a carbohydrate is C n (H 2 O) m .
Carboxylic Acids: Compounds that contain at least one carboxyl group (–COOH): fatty
acids, humic and fulvic acids, hydroxy acids, and aromatic acids.
Cyclic Alkanes: Most found in marine areas are isoprenoids. Excellent biomarkers.
Cyclic Alkenes: Mostly of isoprenoid nature, are found in the marine environment.
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC): The concentration of dissolved organic carbon in seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter). Typical concentration ranges found in the
oceans are 25 to 200 μM.
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON): The concentration of dissolved organic nitrogen in
seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter).
Dissolved Organic Phosphorous (DOP): The concentration of dissolved organic phosphorous in seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter).
Fatty Acids: Compounds that consist of a carboxyl group attached to a long hydrocarbon
chain. Major components of most organisms. Found as fats in animals and waxes
in plants.
Fulvic Acids: Humic acids that are also soluble in acids.
Humic Acids: Base- soluble organic material. Humic acids from aquatic sources are more
aliphatic than their terrestrial counterparts. The H:C ratio of a sample may be
indicative of its major source of origin.
Humic Substances: Major organic component of seawater. Consist of 40 to 60% carbon,
30 to 45% oxygen, 1 to 5% nitrogen, and 2% or less sulfur. Major structural components include aromatic rings and phenolic, hydroxyl, methoxyl, and carboxylic
acid groups. Concentrations in seawater range from 5 to 50 μM as C.
Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon.
Kerogen: Organic matter of sedimentary rocks that is not extractable with organic solvents, mineral acids, or bases.
Ketones: General formula is RCOR’. Marine organisms can biosynthesize ketones in trace
amounts. There has been very little research into this area.
Normal Alkanes: The dominant natural hydrocarbons in the marine environment; are
the most abundant in organisms. Straight- chain alkanes; all single bonds.
Normal Alkenes: Straight- chain alkenes. Have been isolated from marine phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic algae, and bacteria as well as from terrestrial sources.
More reactive than alkanes.
Nucleic Acids: Polymers of the nucleotides (purines and pyridines) when the nucleotides
are bound to a pentose sugar and a phosphate group and connected by phosphate
ester bonds.
Organosulfur Compounds: Wide variety found in marine systems. Dimethylsulfide is
emitted by oceanic biota and plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry.
Many thiols (R- SH) are found in marine sediments as a result of biological degradation of organic matter.
Particulate Organics: The organic material that is collected on a 0.45-μm filter. It consists
of a mixture of living and dead phytoplankton and zooplankton, bacteria, and the
degradation and exudates of these biota.
Glossary of Chemical Oceanography Terms
Amino Acids: The building blocks of proteins.
Aromatic Acids: Compounds that contain at least one benzene ring in addition to the
carboxylic acid group. Aromatic acids are found in combination with humic
substances.
Carbohydrates: A polyhydroxy carbonyl compound. The general formula for a carbohydrate is C n (H 2 O) m .
Carboxylic Acids: Compounds that contain at least one carboxyl group (–COOH): fatty
acids, humic and fulvic acids, hydroxy acids, and aromatic acids.
Cyclic Alkanes: Most found in marine areas are isoprenoids. Excellent biomarkers.
Cyclic Alkenes: Mostly of isoprenoid nature, are found in the marine environment.
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC): The concentration of dissolved organic carbon in seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter). Typical concentration ranges found in the
oceans are 25 to 200 μM.
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON): The concentration of dissolved organic nitrogen in
seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter).
Dissolved Organic Phosphorous (DOP): The concentration of dissolved organic phosphorous in seawater (passing through a 0.45-μm filter).
Fatty Acids: Compounds that consist of a carboxyl group attached to a long hydrocarbon
chain. Major components of most organisms. Found as fats in animals and waxes
in plants.
Fulvic Acids: Humic acids that are also soluble in acids.
Humic Acids: Base- soluble organic material. Humic acids from aquatic sources are more
aliphatic than their terrestrial counterparts. The H:C ratio of a sample may be
indicative of its major source of origin.
Humic Substances: Major organic component of seawater. Consist of 40 to 60% carbon,
30 to 45% oxygen, 1 to 5% nitrogen, and 2% or less sulfur. Major structural components include aromatic rings and phenolic, hydroxyl, methoxyl, and carboxylic
acid groups. Concentrations in seawater range from 5 to 50 μM as C.
Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon.
Kerogen: Organic matter of sedimentary rocks that is not extractable with organic solvents, mineral acids, or bases.
Ketones: General formula is RCOR’. Marine organisms can biosynthesize ketones in trace
amounts. There has been very little research into this area.
Normal Alkanes: The dominant natural hydrocarbons in the marine environment; are
the most abundant in organisms. Straight- chain alkanes; all single bonds.
Normal Alkenes: Straight- chain alkenes. Have been isolated from marine phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic algae, and bacteria as well as from terrestrial sources.
More reactive than alkanes.
Nucleic Acids: Polymers of the nucleotides (purines and pyridines) when the nucleotides
are bound to a pentose sugar and a phosphate group and connected by phosphate
ester bonds.
Organosulfur Compounds: Wide variety found in marine systems. Dimethylsulfide is
emitted by oceanic biota and plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry.
Many thiols (R- SH) are found in marine sediments as a result of biological degradation of organic matter.
Particulate Organics: The organic material that is collected on a 0.45-μm filter. It consists
of a mixture of living and dead phytoplankton and zooplankton, bacteria, and the
degradation and exudates of these biota.