Sea-air flux of volatile organic compounds in the subtropical Pacific Ocean

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K12812
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: OMORI Yuko 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (80613497)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋ー大気相互作用 / 揮発性有機化合物 / 海洋細菌 / 海洋物質循環

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOC) affect global climate change by contributing to the production of tropospheric ozone. The ocean strongly influences the distribution of atmospheric OVOC, however, there is little knowledge about its relationship with OVOC dynamics and microbial activity on the surface of the ocean. In this study, the production and decomposition rates of acetaldehyde and acetone by marine bacteria were quantitatively evaluated in culture experiments. We found that marine bacteria, which were considered to be OVOC decomposers, play a role as OVOC producer.

Free Research Field

生物地球化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、大気環境におけるOVOCの重要性から、グローバルなOVOC分布や収支に関するモデル研究が進められている。海洋は主要なOVOCの吸収・放出源であるにも関わらず、海洋表層のOVOC動態に関する知見は乏しく、OVOC収支の精度向上を律速している。このような背景の中、本研究は海洋微生物とOVOC動態の関わりについて定量的に評価することができた。この成果は、海洋－大気間のOVOC収支の理解に貢献する。