Spatial distributions of dimethylsulfide in the South China Sea

The concentration of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and supporting parameters were determined in surface seawater and vertical profiles at 26 stations in the South China Sea. The concentrations of DMS in surface seawater ranged from 61 to 148 ng S/l, with a mean of 82 ng S/l. High concentrations of DMS were found in the productive regions. The vertical profiles of DMS were characterized by a maximum at depths typically between 20 and 75 m. The concentrations of DMS were correlated with the levels of chlorophyll a both in the surface seawater and in the vertical distribution. The concentrations of DMS were higher than expected for this chlorophyll-poor tropical sea, as indicated by markedly high DMS (ng S/l)/chlorophyll a (μg/l) ratios ranging from 315 to 3524 with a mean of 1768 for all the surface seawater samples. DMS concentration was significantly correlated with seawater temperature and dissolved oxygen, but it showed an inverse relationship to nutrients (including nitrate, phosphate and silicate). On the basis of sea surface concentrations of DMS and gas exchange calculations, the mean flux of DMS from the South China Sea to the atmosphere was estimated to be 5.5 μmol m−2 d−1.