Stable isotopes measurements reveal dual carbon pools contributing to organic matter enrichment in marine aerosol
Ceburnis, D.; Masalaite, A.; Ovadnevaite, J.; Garbaras, A.; Remeikis, V.; Maenhaut, W.; Claeys, M.; Sciare, J.; Baisnée, D.; O'Dowd, C.D. (2016). Stable isotopes measurements reveal dual carbon pools contributing to organic matter enrichment in marine aerosol. NPG Scientific Reports 6(36675): 6 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep36675
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Ceburnis, D.
- Masalaite, A.
- Ovadnevaite, J.
- Garbaras, A.
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- Remeikis, V.
- Maenhaut, W., more
- Claeys, M.
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- Sciare, J.
- Baisnée, D.
- O'Dowd, C.D.
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| Abstract |
Stable carbon isotope ratios in marine aerosol collected over the Southern Indian Ocean revealed δ13C values ranging from −20.0‰ to −28.2‰. The isotope ratios exhibited a strong correlation with the fractional organic matter (OM) enrichment in sea spray aerosol. The base-level isotope ratio of −20.0‰ is characteristic of an aged Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) pool contributing a relatively homogeneous background level of DOM to oceanic waters. The range of isotope ratios, extending down to −28.2‰, is characteristic of more variable, stronger, and fresher Particulate Organic Matter (POM) pool driven by trophic level interactions. We present a conceptual dual-pool POM-DOM model which comprises a ‘young’ and variable POM pool which dominates enrichment in sea-spray and an ‘aged’ but invariant DOM pool which is, ultimately, an aged end-product of processed ‘fresh’ POM. This model is harmonious with the preferential enrichment of fresh colloidal and nano-gel lipid-like particulate matter in sea spray particles and the observed depleted δ13C ratio resulting from isotope equilibrium fractionation coupled with enhanced plankton photosynthesis in cold water (−2 °C to +8 °C). These results re-assert the hypothesis that OM enrichment in sea-spray is directly linked to primary production and, consequently, can have implications for climate-aerosol-cloud feedback systems. |
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