Abstract:

Marine biological productivity determines the seasurfaceemitted sulfur which is the second largest contribution to atmospheric sulfur. Aerosols formed by the local sea surface comprise a far larger part to coarse marine aerosols than anthropgenic emission or long-range transportation does. The concentrations of sulfur and chloride in the coarse part of marine aerosols are presented in this paper. The spacial distributions of nonseasalt S (nssS) and Cl are closely correlated,which shows that they are of the same origin and that they are influenced by the total aerosol flux from sea surface with the atmosphere. The ratio of nssS to Cl agrees well with the spacial distribution of marine primary productivity and hence can be used as a more accurate index for marine biological activity. Finally,the ratio of nonseasalt sulfate to the total seasalt concentration in Vostok ice core is calculated and shows a quite similar trend to that of the temperature. The ratio shows that marine biological activity in the source area of the ice was stronger in warm period than in glacial period.