Global data collection of Surface Microlayer Organic Matter (SML-OM)

The primary dataset consists of 2055 data points, extracted from 31 peer-reviewed publications, identified through a comprehensive and systematic literature search of scholarly articles published between 1967 and 2022. From these studies, data containing simultaneously collected SML and ULW concentrations were extracted for twelve different observational types of organic compounds.The TOC pool includes all forms of organic carbon, thus comprising both POC and DOC. Similarly, the TON pool combines both PON and DON. In general, the particulate pool constitutes a minor fraction of the total pool.All the data were collected either (1) directly from the source when available, or else (2) through digitization of graphs and plots using PlotDigitizer (https://plotdigitizer.com) and GraphClick v3.0 (https://graphclick.en.softonic.com/mac) or, (3) via author correspondence when data were not available in the published materials. The different data extraction methods are flagged.