海洋中的溶解有機物在調節全球碳和氮循環方面發揮著重要作用。了解海洋中碳，磷，氮和其他主要元素的轉化過程在過去十年中是海洋學家的主要興趣所在。本課程的主要目標是關注在元素循環過程中，海洋溶解有機物的控制分佈和扮演的生物地球化學反應角色。這些存在海洋中的復雜錯合物，先是透過藻類的生物合成，經過成礦作用和再礦化作用，又與微量金屬的相互錯和，造成元素分化，同時又經微生物同化與光化學物理相互作用等等，這類在海水中進行的多相次轉化，是本課程闡述解釋的主題。為自然學科領域的學生提供海洋溶解有機物科學基礎專業知識及能力。
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean play a vital role in regulating the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Understanding the processes involved in the transformations of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other major elements in the oceans has been a major interest of oceanographers over the past decade. The primary goal of this course is the distribution and biogeochemistry of dissolved organic matter in the oceans with emphasis and particular focus on elemental cycling. As complexes exist in the marine waters undergo a number of biochemical, photochemical, physical transformations from photosynthesis through diagenesis and re-mineralization, interaction with trace metals, isotopic fractionation, microbial alterations, at interfaces such as those between land and sea, sediment and water, particle and bulk solution. Provides a simple source of concepts and information on marine dissolved organics for future marine biogeochemists.