9416560 JONES Carbon monoxide is an important component in the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in the world oceans. Photochemical and microbiological studies have shown that CO is mainly produced by the oxidation of natural dissolved organic matter. At present, however, little is known about the major molecular components responsible for the photochemical production of CO, the main environmental factors which affect the CO formation and consumption, and the role of microorganisms in the regeneration of organic source of CO in the ocean. As a continuation of past research this effort will further study the basic mechanisms for the photochemical and microbial cycling of CO in marine and fresh water systems. The main objectives of this research are to: (1) identify possible molecular components for the photochemical production of CO with basic photochemical theory and available information about the identified components of natural dissolved organic matter and possible structures of parent humic substances, (2) examine the influences of dissolved oxygen, transition metals and low molecular weight organic compounds which do not appre- ciably absorb sunlight at sea surface on the formation and con- sumption of CO, and (3) examine the role of microorganisms in the transformation of aquatic humic substances including in the photo- production of CO.
