Open AccessDimethyl sulfide air‐sea fluxes and biogenic sulfur as a source of new aerosols in the Arctic fall
Author(s) -
Rempillo Ofelia,
Seguin Alison Michelle,
Norman AnnLise,
Scarratt Michael,
Michaud Sonia,
Chang Rachel,
Sjostedt Steve,
Abbatt Jon,
Else Brent,
Papakyriakou Tim,
Sharma Sangeeta,
Grasby Steve,
Levasseur Maurice
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2011jd016336
Subject(s) - dimethyl sulfide , sulfate , arctic , aerosol , environmental science , sulfur , atmospheric sciences , bay , environmental chemistry , sea salt , sulfur dioxide , sulfate aerosol , dimethylsulfoniopropionate , oceanography , meteorology , chemistry , geology , geography , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , phytoplankton , nutrient
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and its oxidation products, which have been proposed to provide a climate feedback mechanism by affecting aerosol and cloud radiative properties, were measured on board the Canadian Coast Guard ship Amundsen in sampling campaigns in the Arctic in the fall of 2007 and 2008. DMS flux was calculated based on the surface water measurements and yielded 0.1–2.6 μ mol m −2 d −1 along the Northwest Passage in 2007 and 0.2–1.3 μ mol m −2 d −1 along Baffin Bay in 2008. DMS oxidation products, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), methane sulfonic acid (MSA), and sulfate in aerosols were also measured. The amounts of biogenic SO 2 and sulfate were approximated using stable isotope apportionment techniques. Calculating the threshold amount of SO 2 needed for significant new particle formation from the formulation by Pirjola et al. (1999), the study suggests that instances of elevated biogenic SO 2 concentrations (between 8 and 9 September 2008) derived using conservative assumptions may have been sufficient to form new aerosols in clean air conditions in the Arctic region.