Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Limnology and Oceanography

Publisher

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Publication Date

3-2014

Publisher location

Waco, TX, USA

First Page

114

Last Page

125

Issue Number

3

Volume Number

12

Abstract/ Summary

Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) is a well-established method for characterizing dissolved organic matter (DOM). While methods for sample processing and PARAFAC analysis are well defined and robust, subsequent classification of DOM fluorescence components and comparisons of components among studies remain highly qualitative. Because these comparisons often guide the interpretation of subsequent data, it is important that quantitatively accurate comparisons be made. We developed a statistical tool, comPARAFAC, using a modified Tucker’s Congruence Coefficient (mTCC), an established method of factor comparison, to provide a quantitative basis for comparing models. To develop and test this tool we used mTCC to compare factors from 35 DOM fluorescence studies using Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) in marine and freshwater environments. We compared mTCCguided component matching with qualitative comparisons made in the literature to describe the current perceptions of component equivalence. Based on our analysis, 21% of the direct comparisons made using the qualitative approach are potentially erroneous, whereas possible matches are missed 14% of the time using that same approach. The procedure and accompanying PARAFAC model library for performing quantitative mTCC-guided comparisons are available as an R package (see Web Appendix A). This method simplifies and standardizes the process by which researchers identify and compare fluorescent DOM components across studies.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Parr, T.B., Ohno, T., Cronan, C.S., & Simon, K.S. 2014. ComPARAFAC: a library and tools for rapid and quantitative comparison of dissolved organic matter components resolved by Parallel Factor Analysis. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods. 12:114-125 (2014) | DOI: 10.4319/lom.2014.12.114.

Publisher Statement

© 2014 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

DOI

DOI: 10.4319/lom.2014.12.114

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.