Summary: Globally significant oceanic source of organic carbon
aerosol
Dominick V. Spracklen,1
Steve R. Arnold,1
Jean Sciare,2
Kenneth S. Carslaw,1
and
Casimiro Pio3
Received 23 January 2008; revised 15 April 2008; accepted 25 April 2008; published 27 June 2008.
[1] Significant concentrations of organic carbon (OC)
aerosol are observed at three oceanic surface sites
(Amsterdam Island, Azores and Mace Head). Two global
chemical transport models (CTMs) underpredict OC
concentrations at these sites (normalised mean bias of
À67% and À58%). During periods of high biological
activity monthly mean concentrations are underpredicted by
a factor of 5­20. At Amsterdam Island and Mace Head,
observed OC correlates well (R2
= 0.61­0.77) with back-
trajectory weighted chlorophyll-a, suggesting an oceanic

Source: Arnold, Steve - School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
Spracklen, Dominick - School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds

Collections: Environmental Sciences and Ecology; Geosciences