Abstract
The surface of the oceans acts as a global sink and source for trace gases and aerosol particles. Recent studies suggest that photochemical reactions at this air/water interface produce organic vapors, enhancing particle formation in the atmosphere. However, current model calculations neglect this abiotic source of reactive compounds and account only for biological emissions. Here we show that interfacial photochemistry serves as a major abiotic source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on a global scale, capable to compete with emissions from marine biology. Our results indicate global emissions of 23.2–91.9 TgC yr–1 of organic vapors from the oceans into the marine atmosphere and a potential contribution to organic aerosol mass of more than 60% over the remote ocean. Moreover, we provide global distributions of VOC formation potentials, which can be used as simple tools for field studies to estimate photochemical VOC emissions depending on location and season.
Highlights
Life on Earth is a constant and versatile source of surfaceactive compounds in the ambient environment
We combine for the first time results on the formation and presence of surface microlayers (SMLs) with observations of photochemical production of organic vapors from irradiation of surfactant-enriched air/water interfaces[10,11,12,13,14,15], to identify locations and time periods in which such photochemistry is of major importance for marine volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels
To support planning and design of future field studies with a focus on VOC emissions from interfacial photochemistry, we provide global distributions of VOC emission potentials as well as a small calculation tool based on Matlab, to estimate photochemical VOC emissions depending on location and season
Summary
Life on Earth is a constant and versatile source of surfaceactive compounds (i.e., surfactants) in the ambient environment. We combine for the first time results on the formation and presence of SMLs with observations of photochemical production of organic vapors from irradiation of surfactant-enriched air/water interfaces[10,11,12,13,14,15], to identify locations and time periods in which such photochemistry is of major importance for marine VOC levels.
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