1994 Arctic Ocean Section
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is the dominant
biogenic sulfur species produced in the
oceans. It is produced by phytoplankton and
is released into the atmosphere at a rate that
depends on variables such as the concentra-
tion of DMS dissolved in the water phase,
the wind speed and the temperature. Even
small fluxes of gases from ocean waters can
be globally significant when multiplied by
the area covered by the oceans.
DMS is of particular interest because
of its possible role in climate change. Photochemical oxidation of DMS in the
Equipment used on
the Polar Sea to
atmosphere produces fine particles known as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)
analyze DMS sam-
upon which water vapor can condense and form cloud droplets. Changes in the
ples. The system
regional abundance or characteristics of CCN can alter the distribution or proper-
consists of a gas
chromatograph with
ties of clouds, altering the radiative balance through a change in cloud albedo. It
a sulfur chemilumi-
has been hypothesized that DMS is a major link in oceanatmosphere coup-
nescence detector.
ling and may provide a feedback mechanism through which changes in the
global climate are amplified.
Distribution of aque-
ous dimethyl sulfide
concentrations dur-
ing the AOS-94
expedition.
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