Photochemical reactivities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a sub-alpine lake revealed by EEM-PARAFAC: An insight into the fate of allochthonous DOM in alpine lakes affected by climate change

Due to climate change, tree line advance is occurring in many alpine regions. Within the next 50 to 100years, alpine lake catchments are expected to develop increased vegetation cover similar to that of sub-alpine lake catchments which currently exist below the tree line. Such changes in vegetation could trigger increased allochthonous DOM inputs to alpine lakes. To understand the fate of allochthonous DOM in alpine lakes impacted by climate change, the photochemical reactivity of DOM in sub-alpine Lake Tiancai (located 200m below the tree line) was investigated by excitation emission matrix fluorescence combined with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and UV–Vis spectra analysis. With photo-exposure, a decrease in apparent DOM molecular weight was observed and 32% DOM was photomineralized to CO2. Interestingly, the aromaticity of DOM increased after photodegradation, as evidenced by increases in both the specific UV absorbance at 254nm (SUVA254) and the humification index (HIX). Five EEM-PARAFAC components were identified, including four terrestrially-derived substances (C1, C2, C3 and C4; allochthonous) and one tryptophan-like substance (C5; autochthonous). Generally, allochthonous DOM represented by C2 and C3 exhibited greater photoreactivity than autochthonous DOM represented by C5. C4 was identified as a possible photoproduct with relatively high aromaticity and photorefractive tendencies and contributed to the observed increase in SUVA254 and HIX. UV light facilitated the photodegradation of DOM and had the greatest effect on the removal of C3. This study provides information on the transformation of EEM-PARAFAC components in a sub-alpine lake, which is important in understanding the fate of increased allochthonous DOM inputs to alpine lakes impacted by climate change. [Display omitted] •Degradation of DOM in a sub-alpine lake, Lake Tiancai was in-situ studied.•Allochthonous DOM exhibited greater photoreacitivity than autochthonous one.•UV facilitated the degradation, especially two terrestrial components of C1 and C3.•Production of high aromatic component, C4 caused the increase in aromaticity.•Photosensitivity of PARAFAC components was related to changes in the optical indices.