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The influence of marine microbial activities on aerosol production: A laboratory mesocosm study
Author(s) -
Alpert Peter A.,
Kilthau Wendy P.,
Bothe Dylan W.,
Radway JoAnn C.,
Aller Josephine Y.,
Knopf Daniel A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2015jd023469
Subject(s) - exopolymer , mesocosm , phytoplankton , seawater , emiliania huxleyi , aerosol , thalassiosira pseudonana , environmental chemistry , oceanography , biological pump , environmental science , dissolved organic carbon , particulates , particle (ecology) , chemistry , nutrient , bacteria , ecology , biology , geology , genetics , organic chemistry
Abstract The oceans cover most of the Earth's surface, contain nearly half the total global primary biomass productivity, and are a major source of atmospheric aerosol particles. Here we experimentally investigate links between biological activity in seawater and sea spray aerosol (SSA) flux, a relationship of potential significance for organic aerosol loading and cloud formation over the oceans and thus for climate globally. Bubbles were generated in laboratory mesocosm experiments either by recirculating impinging water jets or glass frits. Experiments were conducted with Atlantic Ocean seawater collected off the eastern end of Long Island, NY, and with artificial seawater containing cultures of bacteria and phytoplankton Thalassiosira pseudonana , Emiliania huxleyi , and Nannochloris atomus . Changes in SSA size distributions occurred during all phases of bacterial and phytoplankton growth, as characterized by cell concentrations, dissolved organic carbon, total particulate carbon, and transparent exopolymer particles (gel‐forming polysaccharides representing a major component of biogenic exudate material). Over a 2 week growth period, SSA particle concentrations increased by a factor of less than 2 when only bacteria were present and by a factor of about 3 when bacteria and phytoplankton were present. Production of jet‐generated SSA particles of diameter less than 200 nm increased with time, while production of all particle diameters increased with time when frits were used. The implications of a marine biological activity dependent SSA flux are discussed.