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Oceanic bromoform sources for the tropical atmosphere
Author(s) -
Quack B.,
Atlas E.,
Petrick G.,
Stroud V.,
Schauffler S.,
Wallace D. W. R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl020597
Subject(s) - upwelling , bromoform , tropical atlantic , atmosphere (unit) , troposphere , thermocline , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , climatology , tropics , oceanography , tropical cyclone , sea surface temperature , mixed layer , stratosphere , middle latitudes , geology , meteorology , geography , chemistry , chromatography , chloroform , fishery , biology
Oceanic bromoform (CHBr 3 ) is the major source of organic Br to the atmosphere and may be significant for ozone depletion through the contribution of reactive bromine to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere of the midlatitudes and tropics. We report the first analyses of boundary layer air, surface and deep ocean waters from the tropical Atlantic. The data provide evidence of a source of CHBr 3 throughout the tropical open ocean associated with the deep chlorophyll maximum within the tropical thermocline. Equatorial upwelling carries the CHBr 3 to the surface, adding to increased concentrations in the equatorial mixed layer and driving oceanic emissions that support locally elevated atmospheric concentrations. In air masses that had crossed the coastal upwelling region off NW Africa even higher atmospheric mixing ratios were measured. The observations suggest a link between climate, wind‐driven upwelling, and the supply of Br to the upper atmosphere of the tropics.