Interannual variability of methanesulfonate in rainwater at Amsterdam Island (Southern Indian Ocean)

Abstract

Methanesulfonate (MS −), an exclusive oxidation product of dimethylsulfide (DMS), has been analyzed in rainwater at Amsterdam Island (37°50′S 77°32′E) in the Southern Indian Ocean from 1991 to 1999. Rainwater MS − concentrations range from 0.004 to 4.59 μmol l −1 with a volume weighted mean value of 0.24 μmol l −1 and present a well distinguished seasonal variation with higher values in summer, in line with the seasonal variation of its gaseous precursor (DMS), which was measured on a daily basis since 1990. The interannual variability of MS − in rainwater follows closely that of DMS, indicating that MS − in rainwater can be used as a surrogate to study long-term variations of atmospheric DMS, and further confirms the findings of Sciare et al. (J. Geophys. Res. 105 (2000a) 26 369), that large-scale anomalies occurred in the biogenic sulfur cycle in the Southern Indian Ocean during the studied period. Furthermore, on a monthly basis, the MS − anomalies in the rainwater were found to be closely related to sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies. The correlation between MS − and SST is consistent with that observed between gaseous DMS and SST in the area and indicates an important coupling between the oceanic and the atmospheric compartments of the biogeochemical sulfur cycle.