Marine biogenic emissions of benzene and toluene and their contribution to secondary organic aerosols over the polar oceans

Wohl, C, Li, QP, Cuevas, CA, Fernandez, RP, Yang, M, Saiz-Lopez, A and Simo, R 2023 Marine biogenic emissions of benzene and toluene and their contribution to secondary organic aerosols over the polar oceans. Science Advances, 9 (4). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.add9031

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Abstract/Summary

Reactive trace gas emissions from the polar oceans are poorly characterized, even though their effects on atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation are crucial for assessing current and preindustrial aerosol forcing on climate. Here, we present seawater and atmospheric measurements of benzene and toluene, two gases typically associated with pollution, in the remote Southern Ocean and the Arctic marginal ice zone. Their distribution suggests a marine biogenic source. Calculated emission fluxes were 0.023 ± 0.030 (benzene) and 0.039 ± 0.036 (toluene) and 0.023 ± 0.028 (benzene) and 0.034 ± 0.041 (toluene) μmol m−2 day−1 for the Southern Ocean and the Arctic, respectively. Including these average emissions in a chemistry-climate model increased secondary organic aerosol mass concentrations only by 0.1% over the Arctic but by 7.7% over the Southern Ocean, with transient episodes of up to 77.3%. Climate models should consider the hitherto overlooked emissions of benzene and toluene from the polar oceans.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > Long-term Multi-Centre ORCHESTRA Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Biochemistry and Observations
Depositing User:	S Hawkins
Date made live:	25 May 2023 14:32
Last Modified:	25 May 2023 14:32
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/9944

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