Methyl bromide: Ocean sources, ocean sinks, and climate sensitivity
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (United States)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA (United States)
This study was performed to examine conflicting conclusions of two previously published studies which estimated the size of oceanic sources of methyl bromide. In addition, the sensitivity of atmospheric methyl bromide to climatic variations was examined. A steady state mass balance model was used to reexamine data from the previous studies. Linear scaling of methyl bromide production rates to chlorophyll content provided agreement between the two models. The results suggest that the open ocean is a small net sink for atmospheric methyl bromide, rather than a large net source. A high rate of biological production of methyl bromide in seawater is also strongly indicated. A coupled ocean-atmosphere model indicated that methyl bromide variations induced by climatic change can be larger than those resulting from 25% variations in anthropogenic sources. Quantifying marine production rates of methyl bromide is suggested as a necessary step in assessing stratospheric ozone loss. 63 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 244059
- Journal Information:
- Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Vol. 10, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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