Higher CDOM per unit chlorophyll may also be related to a positive
relationship between enhanced metabolic processes and temperature
(Taucher & Oschlies, 2011). The Red Sea is among the warmest seas
on the planet, changes in microbial-loop activity with temperature
(Behrenfeld, 2011) may alter production and degradation of CDOM.
The Red Sea is also subject to high irradiance. In high light environments
changes in the ratio of phytoplankton carbon to chlorophyll may result
in modifications in the ratio of chlorophyll to CDOM, without any
change in the ratio of phytoplankton carbon to CDOM. Ultimately,
additional data sets are required to verify if the Red Sea has elevated
CDOM absorption per unit chlorophyll.