Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean

<p>Atmospheric methanethiol (MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>), dimethyl sulfide (DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>) and acetone (acetone<span class="inline-formula"><su...

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Main Authors: S. J. Lawson, C. S. Law, M. J. Harvey, T. G. Bell, C. F. Walker, W. J. de Bruyn, E. S. Saltzman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-03-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/3061/2020/acp-20-3061-2020.pdf
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author S. J. Lawson
C. S. Law
C. S. Law
M. J. Harvey
T. G. Bell
C. F. Walker
W. J. de Bruyn
E. S. Saltzman
author_facet S. J. Lawson
C. S. Law
C. S. Law
M. J. Harvey
T. G. Bell
C. F. Walker
W. J. de Bruyn
E. S. Saltzman
author_sort S. J. Lawson
collection DOAJ
description <p>Atmospheric methanethiol (MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>), dimethyl sulfide (DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>) and acetone (acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>) were measured over biologically productive frontal waters in the remote southwest Pacific Ocean in summertime 2012 during the Surface Ocean Aerosol Production (SOAP) voyage. MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> mixing ratios varied from below the detection limit (<span class="inline-formula">&lt;</span>&thinsp;10&thinsp;ppt) up to 65&thinsp;ppt and were 3&thinsp;%–36&thinsp;% of parallel DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> mixing ratios. MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> were correlated over the voyage (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=0.3</span>, slope&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">=</span>&thinsp;0.07) with a stronger correlation over a coccolithophore-dominated phytoplankton bloom (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=0.5</span>, slope 0.13). The diurnal cycle for MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> shows similar behaviour to DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with mixing ratios varying by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼</span>&thinsp;2 according to time of day with the minimum levels of both MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> occurring at around 16:00&thinsp;LT (local time, all times in this paper are in local time). A positive flux of MeSH out of the ocean was calculated for three different nights and ranged from 3.5 to 5.8&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>mol&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−2</sup></span>&thinsp;d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, corresponding to 14&thinsp;%–24&thinsp;% of the DMS flux (MeSH&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">∕</span>&thinsp;(MeSH&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">+</span>&thinsp;DMS)). Spearman rank correlations with ocean biogeochemical parameters showed a moderate-to-strong positive, highly significant relationship between both MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with seawater DMS (DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>sw</sub></span>) and a moderate correlation with total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (total DMSP). A positive correlation of acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with water temperature and negative correlation with nutrient concentrations are consistent with reports of acetone production in warmer subtropical waters. Positive correlations of acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with cryptophyte and eukaryotic phytoplankton numbers, and high-molecular-weight sugars and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), suggest an organic source. This work points to a significant ocean source of MeSH, highlighting the need for further studies into the distribution and fate of MeSH, and it suggests links between atmospheric acetone levels and biogeochemistry over the mid-latitude ocean.</p> <p>In addition, an intercalibration of DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> at ambient levels using three independently calibrated instruments showed <span class="inline-formula">∼</span>&thinsp;15&thinsp;%–25&thinsp;% higher mixing ratios from an atmospheric pressure ionisation chemical ionisation mass spectrometer (mesoCIMS) compared to a gas chromatograph with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). Some differences were attributed to the DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> gradient above the sea surface and differing approaches of integrated versus discrete measurements. Remaining discrepancies were likely due to different calibration scales, suggesting that further investigation of the stability and/or absolute calibration of DMS standards used at sea is warranted.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-518f1f731629446290ca0db02320c2232022-12-21T19:44:15ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242020-03-01203061307810.5194/acp-20-3061-2020Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific OceanS. J. Lawson0C. S. Law1C. S. Law2M. J. Harvey3T. G. Bell4C. F. Walker5W. J. de Bruyn6E. S. Saltzman7Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale, AustraliaNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New ZealandDepartment of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New ZealandPlymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UKNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New ZealandSchmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USAEarth System Science, University of California, Irvine, California, USA<p>Atmospheric methanethiol (MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>), dimethyl sulfide (DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>) and acetone (acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span>) were measured over biologically productive frontal waters in the remote southwest Pacific Ocean in summertime 2012 during the Surface Ocean Aerosol Production (SOAP) voyage. MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> mixing ratios varied from below the detection limit (<span class="inline-formula">&lt;</span>&thinsp;10&thinsp;ppt) up to 65&thinsp;ppt and were 3&thinsp;%–36&thinsp;% of parallel DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> mixing ratios. MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> were correlated over the voyage (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=0.3</span>, slope&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">=</span>&thinsp;0.07) with a stronger correlation over a coccolithophore-dominated phytoplankton bloom (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=0.5</span>, slope 0.13). The diurnal cycle for MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> shows similar behaviour to DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with mixing ratios varying by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼</span>&thinsp;2 according to time of day with the minimum levels of both MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> occurring at around 16:00&thinsp;LT (local time, all times in this paper are in local time). A positive flux of MeSH out of the ocean was calculated for three different nights and ranged from 3.5 to 5.8&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>mol&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−2</sup></span>&thinsp;d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, corresponding to 14&thinsp;%–24&thinsp;% of the DMS flux (MeSH&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">∕</span>&thinsp;(MeSH&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">+</span>&thinsp;DMS)). Spearman rank correlations with ocean biogeochemical parameters showed a moderate-to-strong positive, highly significant relationship between both MeSH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> and DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with seawater DMS (DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>sw</sub></span>) and a moderate correlation with total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (total DMSP). A positive correlation of acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with water temperature and negative correlation with nutrient concentrations are consistent with reports of acetone production in warmer subtropical waters. Positive correlations of acetone<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> with cryptophyte and eukaryotic phytoplankton numbers, and high-molecular-weight sugars and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), suggest an organic source. This work points to a significant ocean source of MeSH, highlighting the need for further studies into the distribution and fate of MeSH, and it suggests links between atmospheric acetone levels and biogeochemistry over the mid-latitude ocean.</p> <p>In addition, an intercalibration of DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> at ambient levels using three independently calibrated instruments showed <span class="inline-formula">∼</span>&thinsp;15&thinsp;%–25&thinsp;% higher mixing ratios from an atmospheric pressure ionisation chemical ionisation mass spectrometer (mesoCIMS) compared to a gas chromatograph with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). Some differences were attributed to the DMS<span class="inline-formula"><sub>a</sub></span> gradient above the sea surface and differing approaches of integrated versus discrete measurements. Remaining discrepancies were likely due to different calibration scales, suggesting that further investigation of the stability and/or absolute calibration of DMS standards used at sea is warranted.</p>https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/3061/2020/acp-20-3061-2020.pdf
spellingShingle S. J. Lawson
C. S. Law
C. S. Law
M. J. Harvey
T. G. Bell
C. F. Walker
W. J. de Bruyn
E. S. Saltzman
Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
title_full Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
title_fullStr Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
title_full_unstemmed Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
title_short Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean
title_sort methanethiol dimethyl sulfide and acetone over biologically productive waters in the southwest pacific ocean
url https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/3061/2020/acp-20-3061-2020.pdf
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