CCN formation from DMS oxidation without SO[sub 2] acting as an intermediate

Journal Article · Fri Apr 09 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL00805· OSTI ID:6437937

Lin, Xing; Chameides, W L

An alternate pathway for generating cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the remote marine boundary layer (MBL) from the oxidation of biogenically-derived dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is proposed. This pathway invokes the production of H[sub 2]SO[sub 4] from DMS without SO[sub 2] serving as an intermediate in the oxidation sequence. The H[sub 2]SO[sub 4] thus produced then undergoes bimolecular nucleation to form tiny sulfate condensation nuclei (CN). These CN rapidly grow to size sufficiently large to act as CCN. While CCN production from SO[sub 2] appears to be inefficient, model calculations indicate that the alternate pathway is capable of generating significant numbers of new CCN in the MBL within a two to three day time period. The alternate pathway also suggests a strong coupling between oceanic emissions of DMS and the number of CCN in the MBL. 31 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6437937
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:7; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOUDS
CONDENSATION NUCLEI
DIMETHYL SULFIDE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAYERS
NUCLEATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
SYNTHESIS