CRM-DOC 2025-2028

This award will fund the University of Miami to continue a consensus reference material (CRM) program in support of consistent, high-quality measurements of DOC by the international ocean chemistry community. With the continuation of this work, the US and international communities will create with confidence consistent measurements of a major marine carbon reservoir, thereby advancing society’s ability to assess changes in the marine carbon cycle and the role of the ocean in climate change. With continued strong international efforts to investigate the marine carbon cycle, the existing CRM program provides the necessary benchmark for globally comparable marine DOC measurements. Water from the deep Florida Strait (~42 mol/kg DOC) will be collected, ampoulated, and distributed to the US and international community. Since the program's launch, ~228,000 vials of reference waters have been distributed to ~240 US and international laboratories in 45 nations, currently at a rate of ~27,000 vials/year. With renewal of the reference material program for 3 years of support, distribution of deep ocean water containing biologically refractory dissolved organic carbon and low carbon reference water will continue to aid the analytical work of the DOM community.