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Evidence for the climatic role of marine biogenic sulphur

Nature volume 329, pages 319–321 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Oceanic dimethylsulphide (DMS) emissions and atmospheric aerosol particle populations (condensation nuclei, CN), resolved by latitude and season, appear to be directly correlated, in that CN, as measured with a condensation nucleus counter, are high (or low) in regions where DMS fluxes and incident solar radiation are high (or low). Although it has been previously hypothesized that CN are produced from DMS1,2, we report the first attempt to correlate DMS flux and CN. As the population of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in marine air is a subset of the CN population3,4, and CCN in turn control the albedo of marine clouds5,6, DMS could be involved in climate control through a cloud albedo feedback mechanism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, Washington, 98115, USA

    Timothy S. Bates & Richard H. Gammon

  2. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Robert J. Charlson

Authors
  1. Timothy S. Bates
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  2. Robert J. Charlson
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  3. Richard H. Gammon
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Bates, T., Charlson, R. & Gammon, R. Evidence for the climatic role of marine biogenic sulphur. Nature 329, 319–321 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/329319a0

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