Marine gas-phase sulfur emissions during an induced phytoplankton bloom

Abstract 3 SCH3), emitted from the surface ocean, contributes to the formation of Aitken mode particles and their growth to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sizes in remote marine environments. It is not clear whether other less commonly measured marine-derived, sulfur-containing gases share similar dynamics to DMS and contribute to secondary marine aerosol formation. Here, we present measurements of gas-phase volatile organosulfur molecules taken with a Vocus proton-transfer-reaction high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer during a mesocosm phytoplankton bloom experiment using coastal seawater. We show that DMS, methanethiol (MeSH; CH3 SH), and benzothiazole (C7 H5 NS) account for on average over 90 % of total gas-phase sulfur emissions, with non-DMS sulfur sources representing 36.8 ± ± = ± ±  18.7 during the bloom and decay. Measurements of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), heterotrophic bacteria, and enzyme activity in the seawater suggest the DMS : MeSH ratio is a sensitive indicator of the bacterial sulfur demand and the composition and magnitude of available sulfur sources in seawater. The evolving DMS : MeSH ratio and the emission of a new aerosol precursor gas, benzothiazole, have important implications for secondary sulfate formation pathways in coastal marine environments.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Marine gas-phase sulfur emissions during an induced phytoplankton bloom ; volume:22 ; number:2 ; year:2022 ; pages:1601-1613 ; extent:13 ; Atmospheric chemistry and physics ; 22, Heft 2 (2022), 1601-1613 (gesamt 13)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kilgour, Delaney B. ; Novak, Gordon A. ; Sauer, Jon S. ; Moore, Alexia N. ; Dinasquet, Julie ; Amiri, Sarah ; Franklin, Emily B. ; Mayer, Kathryn ; Winter, Margaux ; Morris, Clare K. ; Price, Tyler ; Malfatti, Francesca ; Crocker, Daniel R. ; Lee, Christopher ; Cappa, Christopher D. ; Goldstein, Allen ; Prather, Kimberly A. ; Bertram, Timothy H.

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/acp-22-1601-2022
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022020304141373679046
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:34 AM CEST