Optical properties of CDOM across the Polar Front in the Barents Sea: Origin, distribution and significance

► Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is important for the light attenuation in the Barents Sea, European Arctic. ► The CDOM absorption varied little across the Polar Front, and the CDOM pool seemed to be of autochthonous (marine) origin. ► CDOM contributed on average equally to the light attenuation than did 1 mg Chl a m-1. ► CDOM proved to be important when modeling optical properties and for the primary production in the Arctic.