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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 31, L16112, doi:10.1029/2004GL020476, 2004

Recent changes in the air-sea gas exchange of methyl chloroform

Paul O. Wennberg

Division of Geological and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Synte Peacock

Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA


James T. Randerson

Division of Geological and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Rainer Bleck

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA


Abstract

Atmospheric measurements of methyl chloroform provide important constraints on the rate of oxidation of hydrocarbons in Earth's atmosphere. Estimates of the loss of methyl chloroform to the oceans play a small but important role in these calculations. Here, we examine the ocean-atmosphere interaction of methyl chloroform in a global ocean model. Contrary to previous assumptions, these simulations suggest that the high-latitude oceans are currently a source of this chemical to the atmosphere. If confirmed, this finding alters estimates of the change in the atmospheric oxidation rate of hydrocarbons. We highlight the potential usefulness of methyl chloroform as a tracer of ocean circulation.

Received 7 May 2004; accepted 16 July 2004; published 24 August 2004.

Index Terms: 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 0312 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Air/sea constituent fluxes (3339, 4504); 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry; 0368 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—constituent transport and chemistry.

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Citation: Wennberg, P. O., S. Peacock, J. T. Randerson, and R. Bleck (2004), Recent changes in the air-sea gas exchange of methyl chloroform, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L16112, doi:10.1029/2004GL020476.