Source, Composition, and Biodegradability of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Parlung Zangbo River in Southern Tibet, China

Regions of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are experiencing increasing temperatures and decreasing glacial mass at a faster rate than the global average. Our study area, the Parlung Zangbo River basin, is within the southeastern region of the TP which is experiencing the greatest degree of warming on the plateau. This project will characterize spatial distribution of the amount, source, and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exported from the the Parlung Zangbo River basin. DOM in river systems supports many processes integral to ecological functioning including providing nutrients and energy, transporting heavy metals and other pollutants, and mitigating harmful UV radiation. Present characterization of DOM will lay the foundation for predicting how increasing temperatures and increasing glacial contributions to discharge will impact the ecological function of DOM in the river in the future.