A high-resolution time-depth view of dimethylsulphide cycling in the surface sea
Royer, S.-J.; Gali, M.; Mahajan, A.S.; Ross, O.N.; Pérez, G.L.; Saltzman, E.S.; Simó, R. (2016). A high-resolution time-depth view of dimethylsulphide cycling in the surface sea. NPG Scientific Reports 6(32325): 13 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep32325
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Royer, S.-J.
- Gali, M.
- Mahajan, A.S.
- Ross, O.N.
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- Pérez, G.L.
- Saltzman, E.S.
- Simó, R.
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| Abstract |
Emission of the trace gas dimethylsulphide (DMS) from the ocean influences the chemical and optical properties of the atmosphere, and the olfactory landscape for foraging marine birds, turtles and mammals. DMS concentration has been seen to vary across seasons and latitudes with plankton taxonomy and activity, and following the seascape of ocean’s physics. However, whether and how does it vary at the time scales of meteorology and day-night cycles is largely unknown. Here we used high-resolution measurements over time and depth within coherent water patches in the open sea to show that DMS concentration responded rapidly but resiliently to mesoscale meteorological perturbation. Further, it varied over diel cycles in conjunction with rhythmic photobiological indicators in phytoplankton. Combining data and modelling, we show that sunlight switches and tunes the balance between net biological production and abiotic losses. This is an outstanding example of how biological diel rhythms affect biogeochemical processes. |
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