THE APPLICATION OF TIME-RESOLVED SPECTROFLUOROMETRY TO MEASURING BENTHIC FLUXES OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS

A fiber-optic fluorometry system is used in conjunction with a benthic flux chamber in an attempt to estimate fluxes of dissolved organic ca rbon (DOG) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in situ from coa stal marine sediments. These initial deployments in San Diego Bay demo nstrate the usefulness of laser-induced fluorescence measurements for continuous DOC determinations and reveal the possibility of using time -resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to estimate PAH concentrations. DO C fluxes from these contaminated sediments are high and may be a resul t of chamber contamination or may be associated with easily resuspende d sediment particles. Sediment fluorescence profiles are also discusse d. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.