Biopolymers form a gelatinous microlayer at the air-sea interface when Arctic sea ice melts.

Galgani, Luisa, Piontek, Judith and Engel, Anja (2016) Biopolymers form a gelatinous microlayer at the air-sea interface when Arctic sea ice melts. Open Access Scientific Reports, 6 (Article nr. 29465). DOI 10.1038/srep29465.

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Abstract

The interface layer between ocean and atmosphere is only a couple of micrometers thick but plays a critical role in climate relevant processes, including the air-sea exchange of gas and heat and the emission of primary organic aerosols (POA). Recent findings suggest that low-level cloud formation above the Arctic Ocean may be linked to organic polymers produced by marine microorganisms. Sea ice harbors high amounts of polymeric substances that are produced by cells growing within the sea-ice brine. Here, we report from a research cruise to the central Arctic Ocean in 2012. Our study shows that microbial polymers accumulate at the air-sea interface when the sea ice melts. Proteinaceous compounds represented the major fraction of polymers supporting the formation of a gelatinous interface microlayer and providing a hitherto unrecognized potential source of marine POA. Our study indicates a novel link between sea ice-ocean and atmosphere that may be sensitive to climate change.

Document Type: Article
Additional Information: WOS:000379982700001, PubMed ID: 27435531
Keywords: DISSOLVED ORGANIC-MATTER; CLOUD-CONDENSATION-NUCLEI; SURFACE MICROLAYER; AMINO-ACIDS; CARBON; OCEAN; PARTICLES; AEROSOLS; PHYTOPLANKTON; SPRAY
Research affiliation: HGF-AWI
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BI Biological Oceanography
Kiel University
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: Yes
Publisher: Nature Research
Projects: SOPRAN
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2016 08:16
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2020 09:00
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/33557

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