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The objective of this study was to extract and evaluate key catchment characteristics explaining the main variation in properties of dissolved natural organic matter (DNOM) in surface waters draining each catchment. A number of classical and sophisticated DNOM characterisation methodologies were used for this purpose. The explanatory capability of site characteristics on the variation in descriptors of DNOM, including elemental analysis (EA), DOC fractionation, SEC, CZE, CGE, UV/Vis- and FTIR spectra, FES, TLS, ESR, ESI/MS, ¹³C-CPMAS-NMR, potentiometric pH titration as well as functional characteristics such as biodegradability, and the response of macrophyte and PAH partitioning coefficients were evaluated. The sampling sites were all natural, coniferous, heathery-forested catchments with bogs, forming a climatic, anthropogenic deposition and proportional biotope cover gradient …