A net sink for atmospheric CH{sub 3}Br in the East Pacific Ocean

Journal Article · Fri Feb 17 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.267.5200.1002· OSTI ID:70320

Lobert, J M; Geller, L S ^[1]; Butler, J H; Montzka, S A; Myers, R C; Elkins, J W ^[2]

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1. Natinal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Lab., Boulder, CO (United States)

Surface waters along a cruise track in the East Pacific Ocean were undersaturated in methyl bromide (CH{sub 3}Br) in most areas except for coastal and upwelling regions, with saturation anomalies ranging from +100 percent in coastal waters to -50 percent in open ocean areas, representing a regionally weighted mean of -16 (-13 to -20) percent. The partial lifetime of atmospheric CH{sub 3}Br with respect to calculated oceanic degradation along this cruise track is 3.0 (2.9 to 3.6) years. The global, mean dry mole fraction of CH{sub 3}Br in the atmospheric was 9.8 {+-} 0.6 parts per trillion, with an interhemispheric ratio of 1.31 {+-} 0.08. These data indicate that {approximately}8 percent (0.2 parts per trillion) of the observed interhemispheric difference in atmospheric CH{sub 3}Br could be attributed to an uneven global distribution of oceanic sources and sinks. 29 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 70320
• Journal Information: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 5200 Vol. 267; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
METHYL BROMIDE
OZONE LAYER
PACIFIC OCEAN
SINKS
WATER CHEMISTRY