Stoichiometry of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen in the particulate matter of the western North Pacific marginal seas

The suspended particulate matter (SPM) in surface seawater was collected from 19 stations in the Sea of Japan, 42 stations in the East China Sea, 7 stations North of Taiwan and 6 stations in the Philippine Sea and the Bashi Channel. The particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic hydrogen (POH), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), particulate organic sulfur (POS), particulate organic oxygen (POO), particulate phosphorus (PP) and total organic matter (TOM) concentrations were determined. In the Sea of Japan these concentrations were generally lower in the region affected by the Kuroshio branch. In the East China Sea high concentrations of SPM and other organic components were found at stations nearest the Yangtze River mouth, reflecting the terrestrial input. On the other hand, the values were lower in regions influenced by the Kuroshio. In the Philippine Sea and the Bashi Channel, the effect of terrestrial input was not obvious, resulting in lower concentrations of organic matter. The average molar ratios for all samples were C:H:N:S:O = 7.69(± 0.33): 8.73(± 1.62): 1.0: 0.16(± 0.014): 4.12(± 0.64).