Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols  and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Jackson, Rebecca L.; Gabric, Albert J.; Cropp, Roger; Woodhouse, Matthew T.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2181-2020

Articles | Volume 17, issue 8

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2181-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2181-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 17, issue 8

Reviews and syntheses

|

21 Apr 2020

Reviews and syntheses |

| 21 Apr 2020

Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Rebecca L. Jackson, Albert J. Gabric, Roger Cropp, and Matthew T. Woodhouse

Data sets

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Ocean Ecology Laboratory, and Ocean Biology Processing Group Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua and Terra Aerosol Optical Depth Data https://doi.org/10.5067/AQUA/MODIS/L3M/IOP/2018

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Ocean Ecology Laboratory, and Ocean Biology Processing Group Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua and Terra Aerosol Optical Depth Data https://doi.org/10.5067/TERRA/MODIS/L3M/IOP/2018

Short summary

Coral reefs are a strong source of atmospheric sulfur through stress-induced emissions of dimethylsulfide (DMS). This biogenic sulfur can influence aerosol and cloud properties and, consequently, the radiative balance over the ocean. DMS emissions may therefore help to mitigate coral physiological stress via increased low-level cloud cover and reduced sea surface temperature. The importance of DMS in coral physiology and climate is reviewed and the implications for coral bleaching are discussed.