Influence of dimethyl sulfide on the carbon cycle and biological production

• DOI: 10.1007/s10533-018-0430-5
• Publication Date: 2018-02-27T15:08:20Z
• Authors: Shanlin Wang; Mathew Maltrud; Scott Elliott; Philip Cameron-Smith; Alexandra Jonko
• Keywords: Dimethyl sulfide; Marine ecosystem

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a significant source of marine sulfate aerosol and plays an important role in modifying cloud properties. Fully coupled climate simulations using dynamic ecosystem DMS calculations are conducted to estimate fluxes under various scenarios examine the sign strength phytoplankton-DMS-climate feedbacks for first time. Simulation results show small differences production emissions between pre-industrial present scenarios, except some areas Southern Ocean. There clear changes surface ocean concentrations moving into future, they attributable phytoplankton competition driven by complex spatially varying mechanisms. Comparisons parallel with without atmosphere ecosystems physical fields. Without DMS, missing subsequent indirect effects on clouds radiative forcing lead fewer clouds, more solar radiation, much warmer climate. Phaeocystis, uniquely efficient organosulfur producer growth advantage cooler states, can benefit from producing compound through cooling system. Our tight coupling sulfur carbon cycles. The uptake declines atmosphere. analysis indicates weak positive feedback at global scale, large spatial variations individual autotrophic functional groups vary states groups. This highlights importance module cycle mechanism projections.