Impact of Refractory Organic Matter on Particulate Organic Carbon Flux in Estuaries: Depth-Dependent Enhancement

The impact of refractory organic matter (RLM) on particulate organic carbon (POC) flux in estuarine regions exhibits a heightened significance as the depth increases. Empirical evidence from sensitive experimental analyses unequivocally demonstrates that the percentage increase in POC flux exhibits a marked surge with depth, reaching a range of 19.2%-83.5% at a depth of 1000m. These results clearly indicate that RLM exerts a profound influence on the downward transfer of estuarine POC.