Articles | Volume 23, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1261-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1261-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Feb 2026
Research article |
| 13 Feb 2026
| 13 Feb 2026
Distribution and sea-to-air exchange of carbon monoxide in surface microlayer and subsurface seawater in the eastern marginal seas of China
Lin Yang
Key Laboratory of Coastal Salt Marsh Ecosystems and Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Bin Yang
Key Laboratory of Coastal Salt Marsh Ecosystems and Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Disaster Processes and Ecological Protection Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, 535011, China
Jing Zhang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
Anja Engel
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Disaster Processes and Ecological Protection Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, 535011, China
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Sophia Hirschmann, Anabel von Jackowski, Benjamin Pontiller, Katja Metfies, Vasily Povazhnyi, Stefan Neuhaus, Eva-Maria Nöthig, and Anja Engel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4192, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4192, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
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Phytoplankton release dissolved organic carbon, including carbohydrates, which are either recycled by microbes or form sticky, sugar-containing gels that may contribute to carbon export via aggregation. By studying phytoplankton communities, dissolved carbohydrate composition and gel formation in the Fram Strait and Kara Sea, we show that blooms dominated by different phytoplankton groups leave distinct organic signatures, suggesting that community shifts could alter carbon processing pathways.
Josefine Karnatz, Theresa Barthelmeß, Bita Sabbaghzadeh, and Anja Engel
Biogeosciences, 23, 4145–4169, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4145-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4145-2026, 2026
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Cyanobacteria form massive summer blooms in the Baltic Sea that release organic compounds to the ocean’s surface. By analyzing the thin boundary layer between ocean and atmosphere, this study shows that cyanobacteria influence the molecular composition and surface properties of the sea surface, increasing surfactants that may reduce gas exchange. The findings provide new insight into how future cyanobacteria blooms could affect air-sea interactions and climate-related processes.
Yuanxu Dong, Christa A. Marandino, Ryo Dobashi, David T. Ho, Gregor Rehder, Henry C. Bittig, Josefine Karnatz, Bita Sabbaghzadeh, Helen Czerski, and Anja Engel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 5567–5587, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5567-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5567-2026, 2026
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Air-sea gas exchange regulates the Earth’s climate. However, the description of the kinetic exchange process only uses wind speed, neglecting other drivers. In this study, we investigate how fetch and natural surfactants modulate air-sea carbon dioxide exchange. Measurements from the central Baltic Sea show that limited fetch and elevated surfactants significantly suppress this exchange. A new parameterisation is provided, improving regional carbon budgets and evaluations of climate solutions.
Theresa Barthelmeß, Karine Sellegri, Benjamin Pontiller, Lindsay Scheidemann, Karl Safi, and Anja Engel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1873, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1873, 2026
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Sea spray transports marine organic particles into the atmosphere where they contribute to climate-relevant processes such as cloud formation. We investigated small biogenic gels which were enriched in sea spray aerosols in dependence on the surface sea water conditions as e.g. defined by phytoplankton composition and different organic matter pools. Moreover, the composition of these gels was size-dependent and did not directly mirror the composition of their marine precursors.
Anja Engel, Gernot Friedrichs, Kerstin E. Krall, and Bernd Jähne
Biogeosciences, 23, 2101–2117, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-2101-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-2101-2026, 2026
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We investigated how organic molecules in the ocean's surface layer accumulate and respond to wind. Using a large wind-wave tank filled with seawater, we found that natural molecules produced by marine microbes gather at the surface under light winds, slowing the exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide. When winds increase, this layer rapidly breaks down. These findings suggest that marine life can influence how the ocean and atmosphere interact, particularly in calm conditions.
Evelyn Freney, Karine Sellegri, Therese Barthelmeß, Anja Engel, Darrel Baumgardner, and Dagen Hughes
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-87, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-87, 2026
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The exchange of material between the ocean and atmosphere plays an important role in regulating Earth’s climate. Through wave action, the ocean releases tiny airborne particles that influence atmospheric processes. This study examines how biological and chemical processes in seawater affect the properties of particles emitted from the ocean, highlighting the complex links between ocean biology and marine aerosols.
Amavi Silva, Surandokht Nikzad, Theresa Barthelmeß, Anja Engel, Hartmut Herrmann, Manuela van Pinxteren, Kai Wirtz, Oliver Wurl, and Markus Schartau
Biogeosciences, 23, 1697–1718, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1697-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1697-2026, 2026
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We conducted the first meta-analysis combining marine and freshwater studies to understand organic matter enrichment in the surface microlayer. Nitrogen-rich, particulate compounds are often enriched, with patterns varying by multiple factors. We recommend tracking both absolute concentrations and normalized enrichment patterns to better assess ecological conditions. Our study also introduces improved statistical methods for analyzing and comparing surface microlayer data.
Carsten Rauch, Lisa Deyle, Leonie Jaeger, Edgar Fernando Cortés-Espinoza, Mariana Ribas-Ribas, Josefine Karnatz, Anja Engel, and Oliver Wurl
Ocean Sci., 22, 403–426, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-403-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-403-2026, 2026
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Microsensors measuring oxygen and temperature were used to gain high-resolution profiles across the surface of a water basin, in which an algal bloom was induced. These novel data show that the oxygen at the sea surface is highly influenced by algal blooms, while the temperature is only indirectly affected by them. Since algal blooms occur globally, this has considerable implications for calculating global air-sea exchanges of gases or heat, especially under low-wind conditions.
Riaz Bibi, Mariana Ribas-Ribas, Leonie Jaeger, Carola Lehners, Lisa Gassen, Edgar Fernando Cortés-Espinoza, Jochen Wollschläger, Claudia Thölen, Hannelore Waska, Jasper Zöbelein, Thorsten Brinkhoff, Isha Athale, Rüdiger Röttgers, Michael Novak, Anja Engel, Theresa Barthelmeß, Josefine Karnatz, Thomas Reinthaler, Dmytro Spriahailo, Gernot Friedrichs, Falko Asmussen Schäfer, and Oliver Wurl
Biogeosciences, 22, 7563–7589, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7563-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7563-2025, 2025
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A multidisciplinary mesocosm study was conducted to investigate biogeochemical processes and their relationships in the sea-surface microlayer and underlying water during an induced phytoplankton bloom. Phytoplankton-derived organic matter, fuelled microbial activity and biofilm formation, supporting high bacterial abundance. Distinct temporal patterns in biogeochemical parameters and greater variability in the sea-surface microlayer highlight its influence on air–sea interactions.
Shan-Shan Liu, Jie Ni, Jin-Ming Song, Xu-Xu Gao, Zhen He, and Gui-Peng Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 14967–14986, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14967-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14967-2025, 2025
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Volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHCs) influence the ozone layer and climate, yet the Western Pacific's role in their budget was unclear. This study showed that ocean ventilation and terrestrial inputs jointly controlled VCHCs levels in the Western Pacific, with the region acting as a source for some VCHCs but a sink for carbon tetrachloride. These findings highlighted the ocean's regulatory role and provided essential data to refine global VCHCs' budget estimates.
Anisbel Leon-Marcos, Moritz Zeising, Manuela van Pinxteren, Sebastian Zeppenfeld, Astrid Bracher, Elena Barbaro, Anja Engel, Matteo Feltracco, Ina Tegen, and Bernd Heinold
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 4183–4213, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4183-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4183-2025, 2025
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This study represents the primary marine organic aerosol (PMOA) emissions, focusing on their sea–atmosphere transfer. Using the FESOM2.1–REcoM3 model, concentrations of key organic biomolecules were estimated and integrated into the ECHAM6.3–HAM2.3 aerosol–climate model. Results highlight the influence of marine biological activity and surface winds on PMOA emissions, with reasonably good agreement with observations improving aerosol representation in the southern oceans.
Shengqian Zhou, Ying Chen, Shan Huang, Xianda Gong, Guipeng Yang, Honghai Zhang, Hartmut Herrmann, Alfred Wiedensohler, Laurent Poulain, Yan Zhang, Fanghui Wang, Zongjun Xu, and Ke Yan
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 4267–4290, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4267-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4267-2024, 2024
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Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a crucial natural reactive gas in the global climate system due to its great contribution to aerosols and subsequent impact on clouds over remote oceans. Leveraging machine learning techniques, we constructed a long-term global sea surface DMS gridded dataset with daily resolution. Compared to previous datasets, our new dataset holds promise for improving atmospheric chemistry modeling and advancing our comprehension of the climate effects associated with oceanic DMS.
Juan Yu, Lei Yu, Zhen He, Gui-Peng Yang, Jing-Guang Lai, and Qian Liu
Biogeosciences, 21, 161–176, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-161-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-161-2024, 2024
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The distributions of volatile organic sulfur compounds (VSCs) (DMS, COS, and CS2) in the seawater and atmosphere of the Bohai and Yellow Seas were evaluated. Seasonal variations in VSCs were found and showed summer > spring. The COS concentrations exhibited positive correlation with DOC concentrations in seawater during summer. VSCs concentrations in seawater decreased with the depth. Sea-to-air fluxes of COS, DMS, and CS2 indicated that these marginal seas are sources of atmospheric VSCs.
Karine Sellegri, Theresa Barthelmeß, Jonathan Trueblood, Antonia Cristi, Evelyn Freney, Clémence Rose, Neill Barr, Mike Harvey, Karl Safi, Stacy Deppeler, Karen Thompson, Wayne Dillon, Anja Engel, and Cliff Law
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 12949–12964, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12949-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12949-2023, 2023
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The amount of sea spray emitted to the atmosphere depends on the ocean temperature, but this dependency is not well understood, especially when ocean biology is involved. In this study, we show that sea spray emissions are increased by up to a factor of 4 at low seawater temperatures compared to moderate temperatures, and we quantify the temperature dependence as a function of the ocean biogeochemistry.
Manon Rocco, Erin Dunne, Alexia Saint-Macary, Maija Peltola, Theresa Barthelmeß, Neill Barr, Karl Safi, Andrew Marriner, Stacy Deppeler, James Harnwell, Anja Engel, Aurélie Colomb, Alfonso Saiz-Lopez, Mike Harvey, Cliff S. Law, and Karine Sellegri
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-516, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-516, 2023
Preprint archived
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During the Sea2cloud campaign in the Southern Pacific Ocean, we measured air-sea emissions from phytopankton of two key atmospheric compounds: DMS and MeSH. These compounds are well-known to play a great role in atmospheric chemistry and climate. We see in this paper that these compounds are most emited by the nanophytoplankton population. We provide here parameters for climate models to predict future trends of the emissions of these compounds and their roles and impacts on the global warming.
Lin Yang, Jing Zhang, Anja Engel, and Gui-Peng Yang
Biogeosciences, 19, 5251–5268, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5251-2022, 2022
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Enrichment factors of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the eastern marginal seas of China exhibited a significant spatio-temporal variation. Photochemical and enrichment processes co-regulated DOM enrichment in the sea-surface microlayer (SML). Autochthonous DOM was more frequently enriched in the SML than terrestrial DOM. DOM in the sub-surface water exhibited higher aromaticity than that in the SML.
Quentin Devresse, Kevin W. Becker, Arne Bendinger, Johannes Hahn, and Anja Engel
Biogeosciences, 19, 5199–5219, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5199-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5199-2022, 2022
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Eddies are ubiquitous in the ocean and alter physical, chemical, and biological processes. However, how they affect organic carbon production and consumption is largely unknown. Here we show how an eddy triggers a cascade effect on biomass production and metabolic activities of phyto- and bacterioplankton. Our results may contribute to the improvement of biogeochemical models used to estimate carbon fluxes in the ocean.
Theresa Barthelmeß and Anja Engel
Biogeosciences, 19, 4965–4992, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4965-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4965-2022, 2022
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Greenhouse gases released by human activity cause a global rise in mean temperatures. While scientists can predict how much of these gases accumulate in the atmosphere based on not only human-derived sources but also oceanic sinks, it is rather difficult to predict the major influence of coastal ecosystems. We provide a detailed study on the occurrence, composition, and controls of substances that suppress gas exchange. We thus help to determine what controls coastal greenhouse gas fluxes.
Junri Zhao, Weichun Ma, Kelsey R. Bilsback, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Shengqian Zhou, Ying Chen, Guipeng Yang, and Yan Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9583–9600, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9583-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9583-2022, 2022
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Marine dimethylsulfide (DMS) emissions play important roles in atmospheric sulfur cycle and climate effects. In this study, DMS emissions were estimated by using the machine learning method and drove the global 3D chemical transport model to simulate their climate effects. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the Asian region that quantifies the combined impacts of DMS on sulfate, particle number concentration, and radiative forcings.
Manuela van Pinxteren, Tiera-Brandy Robinson, Sebastian Zeppenfeld, Xianda Gong, Enno Bahlmann, Khanneh Wadinga Fomba, Nadja Triesch, Frank Stratmann, Oliver Wurl, Anja Engel, Heike Wex, and Hartmut Herrmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5725–5742, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5725-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5725-2022, 2022
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A class of marine particles (transparent exopolymer particles, TEPs) that is ubiquitously found in the world oceans was measured for the first time in ambient marine aerosol particles and marine cloud waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. TEPs are likely to have good properties for influencing clouds. We show that TEPs are transferred from the ocean to the marine atmosphere via sea-spray formation and our results suggest that they can also form directly in aerosol particles and in cloud water.
France Van Wambeke, Vincent Taillandier, Karine Desboeufs, Elvira Pulido-Villena, Julie Dinasquet, Anja Engel, Emilio Marañón, Céline Ridame, and Cécile Guieu
Biogeosciences, 18, 5699–5717, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5699-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5699-2021, 2021
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Simultaneous in situ measurements of (dry and wet) atmospheric deposition and biogeochemical stocks and fluxes in the sunlit waters of the open Mediterranean Sea revealed complex physical and biological processes occurring within the mixed layer. Nitrogen (N) budgets were computed to compare the sources and sinks of N in the mixed layer. The transitory effect observed after a wet dust deposition impacted the microbial food web down to the deep chlorophyll maximum.
Frédéric Gazeau, France Van Wambeke, Emilio Marañón, Maria Pérez-Lorenzo, Samir Alliouane, Christian Stolpe, Thierry Blasco, Nathalie Leblond, Birthe Zäncker, Anja Engel, Barbara Marie, Julie Dinasquet, and Cécile Guieu
Biogeosciences, 18, 5423–5446, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5423-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5423-2021, 2021
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Our study shows that the impact of dust deposition on primary production depends on the initial composition and metabolic state of the tested community and is constrained by the amount of nutrients added, to sustain both the fast response of heterotrophic prokaryotes and the delayed one of phytoplankton. Under future environmental conditions, heterotrophic metabolism will be more impacted than primary production, therefore reducing the capacity of surface waters to sequester anthropogenic CO2.
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Short summary
Carbon monoxide (CO), chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) were more frequently enriched in the higher temperature and salinity off-shore regions. Marine-humic like CDOM tends to inhibit the sea-to-air flux of CO in the sea-surface microlayer (SML). The enrichment and photochemical process of CO in the SML were more active during the daytime. The photochemical production and microbial consumption rates of CO in the SML were more active than in the subsurface layer (SSW).
Carbon monoxide (CO), chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and fluorescent dissolved...
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