Organic Matter in the Hydrosphere

Abstract

Organic matter appears in all compartments of the hydrosphere of both natural and more and more anthropogenic origin. Aquatic organic matter exhibits a high structural diversity and corresponding physicochemical properties. Marine and terrestrial surface water bodies including their corresponding sediments as well as groundwater are affected by natural compounds of autochthonous origin from aquatic species, in particular from phyto-and zooplankton, and allochthonous material from terrestrial biota. Anthropogenic pollutants are released to aquatic ecosystems mainly as the result of municipal, industrial, and agricultural