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Award: OCE-1436344
Award Title: Collaborative Research: Resolving the processes controlling the distribution of the biogenic trace gas dimethylsulfide and related compounds in the Subarctic NE Pacific
This project measured the cycling of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its related compounds in the Subarctic Northeast Pacific Ocean on two late-summer oceanographic cruises. DMS is a sulfur-containing gas that is abundant in the world's oceans. Oceanic DMS emissions are the largest source of biologically-produced sulfur to the atmosphere, with important implications for atmospheric chemistry and the world's climate. Research over the last two decades has revealed that a complex web of processes is involved in the cycling of DMS in the ocean. However, many of these processes remain poorly understood. The study used a novel isotope tracer method to quantify the in-situ turnover rates of these compounds in different surface water masses across frontal boundaries with contrasting DMS/phosphorus/oxygen and nutrient concentrations, and in Lagrangian experiments to investigate temporal evolution of cycling rates. Using newly-developed methods for automated underway sampling, researchers mapped the surface distributions of DMS at very high spatial resolution. Intellectual Merit: Dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) play critical roles in marine microbial ecology as metabolic substrates and as essential components of the oceanic sulfur cycle. Moreover, oceanic DMS emissions are geochemically important as the largest source of biogenic sulfur to the atmosphere and have been implicated as a contributing factor for the atmospheric radiative balance, with important climate implications. Research over the last two decades has revealed that a complex web of processes is involved in the cycling of DMS in the ocean. However, many of these processes remained poorly understood. The results from this research advanced our understanding of DMS cycling in the Subarctic NE Pacific Ocean and of the spatial variability in oceanic DMS, DMSP, and DMSO concentrations in surface waters. Broader Impacts: Results from this research provided key information to a broad range of disciplines from microbiology to Earth-system science, and further developed methods and technologies useful to the broader research community. The study supported a graduate student who published two papers based on the project as well as involving three other graduate students and postdocs in the research cruises, contributing to the development of human resources in science. Last Modified: 12/01/2020 Submitted by: John W H Dacey