Marine optical biogeochemistry: The chemistry of ocean color

Much of the chemistry of all elements involves understanding how they are cycled via photosynthetic primary productivity, zooplankton grazing and the microbial decay of the produced organic matter (OM) both in the water column and in sediments. This review discusses how colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) gives the ocean its characteristic color and how it is studied via oceanic and satellite optical instrumentation even though the exact chemical structures of CDOM is unknown. Satellite data are also used as a proxy for primary productivity measurements and to track riverine inputs and surface-ocean circulation features.