Trace gas sources and distributions across the tropical Atlantic Ocean lower atmosphere
Abstract
A research cruise of the R/V METEOR was conducted during October-November, 2002, along a transect from South America to Africa along approximately 10 N, with a jog to the equator in the Eastern Atlantic section. Trace gases were measured in-situ and from stainless steel canisters collected throughout the cruise. Trace gas measurements included CO, ozone, C1-C5 hydrocarbons, numerous halocarbons, HFCs, HCFCs, alkyl nitrates, and selected sulfur compounds. In this presentation we will examine the factors influencing the distribution and sources of trace gases in the marine boundary layer of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The variety of trace gases measured during the experiment contain signatures of different source types including marine emission, biomass burning, industrial and anthropogenic activity, and interhemispheric exchange. Background marine conditions were encountered in the Western Atlantic, with little evidence of recent continental sources and limited emission of trace gases from marine biogenic sources. The transect to the equator from 10 N showed increasing evidence of marine biogenic emissions, particularly of light alkyl nitrates. The Eastern Atlantic contained a more complex distribution of tracers. Air mass transport from the north and east across North Africa showed evidence of mixtures of industrial tracers, biomass burning emissions, and strong indication of emissions of halocarbons from productive coastal waters along the African shelf.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003AGUFM.A31D0076A
- Keywords:
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- 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE;
- 0322 Constituent sources and sinks;
- 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry