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A large terrestrial source of methyl iodide
Author(s) -
Sive Barkley C.,
Varner Ruth K.,
Mao Huiting,
Blake Donald R.,
Wingenter Oliver W.,
Talbot Robert
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2007gl030528
Subject(s) - middle latitudes , biome , methyl iodide , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , flux (metallurgy) , vegetation (pathology) , mixing ratio , climatology , geology , meteorology , geography , ecosystem , ecology , chemistry , medicine , organic chemistry , pathology , medicinal chemistry , biology
We have identified terrestrial sources of methyl iodide (CH 3 I) and assessed their importance in its atmospheric budget using a synthesis of field observations. Measurements include those from NASA DC‐8 research flights over the United States and the North Atlantic, the AIRMAP long‐term ground‐observing network in New England, and a field campaign at Duke Forest, North Carolina. We found an average CH 3 I flux of ∼2,700 ng m −2 d −1 to the atmosphere from midlatitude vegetation and soils, a value similar in magnitude to previous estimates of the oceanic source strength. The large‐scale aircraft measurements of vertical profiles over the continental U.S. showed CH 3 I‐mixing ratios comparable to and greater than those observed over the North Atlantic. Overall, midlatitude terrestrial biomes appear to contribute 33 Gg yr −1 to the CH 3 I global budget.