Methane sulphonic acid as a tracer for non sea salt sulphate: implications for global climate regulation

Methane sulphonic acid (MSA) has been cited as a useful tracer of oceanic emissions of dimethyl sulphide (DMS), Mulvaney et al., 1992. MSA is the second mo t important oxidation product of DMS, but unlike the main product, sulphate, it's only major ource is the marine precursor compound. Given the potential importance of marine sulphur in influencing the albedo of clouds, it has been propo ed that the activity of marine algae has a wider global role in climate regulation (Charlson et al., 1987). Precipitation samples are a medium via which the relationship between MSA and non ea salt sulphate (nss-SOi-) may be examined and this has been investigated in amples collected at Oxford. In spite of adopting an original and more rigorous mechanism for establishing the concentration of nss-SOi- in precipitation there • till evidence that mean value for the ratio MSA / ns - soi- vary over ttme cales of ea ons. A maximum average figure of approximately 0.025 is ob erved in spring, which was ignificantly greater than values obtained during winter and autumn. All values ere sub tantially lower than e pected. Variability in the ratio of sulphur compounds is cited as further evidence of the weakne of using MS as a tracer of nss-soi-. A comprehensive analysis of volcanic acti ·ty against climate chang indicate that past ice core studies of the relationship between the oxidation products of DMS may underestimate the significance of the volcanic sulphate aero ol in global climate forcing.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Ajiboye, Paul

Contributors dc:contributor

• Watts, S.
• Brimblecomb, P.

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/n06c-kz82

OAI identifier oai:identifier

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