Bulk dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from two microcosm incubation experiments conducted under three light treatments using water originating from West Bay of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina USA in 2021 and 2022

Bulk dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was collected from two microcosm incubation experiments. Sample water originated from West Bay of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina USA in 2021 and 2022. The microcosms were 60 liters, conducted in biological duplicates under three light treatment incubations: 12-hour light-dark cycle of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), 12-hour light-dark cycle of UV-B radiation, or darkness. Samples were collected from the microcosms in duplicate every few days for over one month to examine how light and the resulting microbial activity altered the DOC pool over time.