Some of our greatest advances in understanding the structure and functioning of natural systems occur when newly developed methods unlock scientific doors. Sometimes these gateways have been barred because of methodological constraints, sometimes because we have lacked reasons to seek them. When scientific necessity and methodology converge, advances in knowledge can be extraordinary. During the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS), such a convergence led to remarkable advances in our understanding of the role of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in the ocean carbon cycle.

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