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Global ocean emission of dimethylsulfide predicted from biogeophysical data
Author(s) -
Simó Rafel,
Dachs Jordi
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2001gb001829
Subject(s) - environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , biosphere , albedo (alchemy) , predictability , climatology , atmospheric sciences , ocean color , flux (metallurgy) , meteorology , geology , ecology , geography , chemistry , art , physics , satellite , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , aerospace engineering , performance art , engineering , biology , art history
Among the biosphere‐atmosphere interactions that influence climate, the emission of dimethylsulfide (DMS) from the ocean plays a prominent role for its high potential in cloud albedo regulation. In order to advance in our understanding and quantification of this coupled ocean‐atmosphere system, both synoptic and predictive capabilities must be largely improved. Hitherto, large‐scale oceanic DMS has eluded being captured from remote sensing, correlated with synoptic variables, or simulated by mechanistic modeling. We have found a simple empirical relationship that permits global‐ocean monthly distributions of DMS concentration to be computed from a combination of remotely sensed biospheric data (chlorophyll a ) and climatological geophysical data (mixed layer depth). This relationship allows for the desired synopticity and predictability in the ocean‐to‐atmosphere sulfur flux, which we have globally quantified as 23–35 Tg S yr −1 . Also, our algorithm stands in support of a biogenic‐DMS/solar‐radiation negative feedback and opens the door toward quantifying its strength and its response to global warming.