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Particulate methanesulfonic acid over the central Mediterranean Sea: Source region identification and relationship with phytoplankton activity

TitleParticulate methanesulfonic acid over the central Mediterranean Sea: Source region identification and relationship with phytoplankton activity
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsMansour, K., Decesari S., Bellacicco M., Marullo S., Santoleri R., Bonasoni P., Facchini M.C., Ovadnevaite J., Ceburnis D., O'Dowd C., and Rinaldi M.
JournalAtmospheric Research
Volume237
ISSN01698095
Keywordsaerosol, Aerosols, Air sea interactions, air-sea interaction, algorithm, Atmospheric movements, chlorophyll a, Italy, Mediterranean Sea, Methane sulfonic acid, Oceanography, Organic acids, Particles (particulate matter), particulate matter, Phytoplankton, PSCF, Sicily, source identification, spatiotemporal analysis, Sulfur compounds, Surface waters, Transport properties, volatile organic compound, Volatile organic compounds
Abstract

Many efforts have been dedicated toward understanding the role of biogenic sulfur particles as a climate regulator. Herein, we investigate the relationship between the atmospheric concentration of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and phytoplankton biomass in the Mediterranean Sea by identifying the main MSA source regions during a springtime intensive observation period. The study approach combines i) spatio-temporal correlation analysis between in situ aerosol data measured in April 2016 at Capo Granitola (southern Sicily), and high-resolution ocean color composites, ii) back-trajectory analysis, and iii) potential source contribution function (PSCF) algorithm. The southwestern Mediterranean region (between Sardinia and the Algerian coast) was identified as the most probable dimethylsulfide (DMS) source region contributing to the observed MSA concentrations. Conversely, the blooming northwestern Mediterranean Sea region did not appear to contribute significantly. The present analysis shows that the reasons may be biotic (phytoplankton type, stress level) or abiotic (sea surface temperature), or a combination of both. We also postulate that the identified source region is associated with the production of non-sea-salt-sulfate and secondary organic aerosols from the processing of sea-released volatile organic compounds. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

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URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85077505881&doi=10.1016%2fj.atmosres.2019.104837&partnerID=40&md5=c4a4c6750928df49d8e7f413e64b6f9e
DOI10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.104837
Citation KeyMansour2020