Atmospheric transport of terrestrial organic matter to the sea

Abstract

The transport of atmospheric particles with associated terrestrial organic matter to the oceans is an important process affecting various global concerns such as climate change and environmental and human health. Aerosol particulate matter over the oceans is derived from autochthonous emissions admixed with varying amounts of continental effluents. It is important to be able to assess the sources and fate (receptors) of aerosols, and both inorganic and organic tracers are of utility. The organic compounds of atmospheric particles from marine and terrestrial regions can be characterized by specific tracers for (1) natural emissions (marine lipids, vegetation waxes, terpenes), (2) fossil fuels utilization (internal combustion engine emissions, coal burning), (3) biomass burning (taxon specific, wildfires), (4) anthropogenic emissions (industry, urban activity), and (5) soil and desert sand resuspension (agriculture, wind erosion). The precursor-product chemistry can then be used to assess the secondary reactions (thermal or atmospheric) and the fate of aerosol organic matter. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.