AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Editors' Highlight

A large terrestrial source of methyl iodide

It has been known that methyl iodide (CH₃I), a compound that influences ozone chemistry and aerosol formation in the atmosphere, is released primarily from the ocean. Sive et al. (2007) recently identified terrestrial sources of CH₃I using a synthesis of field observations, including research flights over the United States and the North Atlantic, a ground-based atmospheric observation network in New England, and a field campaign at Duke Forest, North Carolina. The authors found that about 2700 ng of CH₃I per square meter are released each day from midlatitude vegetation and soils, a value similar in magnitude to previous estimates of the oceanic source strength. They expect that similar studies to measure CH₃I emitted from tropical and boreal areas will improve flux estimates and facilitate the development of a more accurate global budget for CH₃I.

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