3.2 Writing and notation

In reference to this fraction of the DOM pool, people have been using interchangeably different terminology. For example, a_g(\(\lambda\)), a(\(\lambda\)), CDOM(\(\lambda\)), aCDOM(\(\lambda\)) and \(a_{CDOM}(\lambda)\) are all referring to the absorption coefficient measured at wavelength \(\lambda\) (nm).

To unify the terminology, we propose that absorption of CDOM should be written as \(\mathbf{a_{\text{CDOM}}(\lambda)}\) using the followings rules:

1. a in italic to reference to absorption (vs absorbance).
2. CDOM subscript and in capital letters.
3. \(\lambda\) sign to refer to the wavelength where the measurement is done.

For example, \(a_{\text{CDOM}}(350)\) refers to absorption coefficient measured at 350 nm.