Abstract
Seawater, atmospheric dimethylsulfide (DMS) and aerosol compounds, potentially linked with DMS oxidation, such as methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO 4 2−) were determined in the North Yellow Sea, China during July–August, 2006. The concentrations of seawater and atmospheric DMS ranged from 2.01 to 11.79 nmol l −1 and from 1.68 to 8.26 nmol m −3, with average values of 6.20 nmol l −1 and 5.01 nmol m −3, respectively. Owing to the appreciable concentration gradient, DMS accumulated in the surface water was transferred into the atmosphere, leading to a net sea-to-air flux of 6.87 μmol m −2 d −1 during summer. In the surface seawater, high DMS values corresponded well with the concurrent increases in chlorophyll a levels and a significant correlation was observed between integrated DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations. In addition, the concentrations of MSA and nss-SO 4 2− measured in the aerosol samples ranged from 0.012 to 0.079 μg m −3 and from 3.82 to 11.72 μg m −3, with average values of 0.039 and 7.40 μg m −3, respectively. Based on the observed MSA, nss-SO 4 2− and their ratio, the relative biogenic sulfur contribution was estimated to range from 1.2% to 11.5%, implying the major contribution of anthropogenic source to sulfur budget in the study area.
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