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Marine source of atmospheric acetylene

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Abstract

Acetylene (C2H2) is a non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) generally considered to be produced only by human activities1,2. In effect, its mixing ratio is typically in the range 500–3,000 parts per 1012 by volume (p.p.t.v.) in inhabited countries, compared with 50–100 p.p.t.v. in remote oceanic areas. The destruction of acetylene in the atmosphere occurs only by reaction with OH radicals; acetylene is one of the longest-lived NMHC, with an average tropospheric lifetime of the order of two months, allowing this compound to reach remote areas as well as the stratosphere. Thus the presence of C2H2 in open oceanic atmosphere is commonly explained by its long-range transport from continental sources. Here we present and discuss new data obtained in the Indian and Pacific oceans, showing that this gas could be produced by natural processes in sea water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, Laboratoire mixte CNRS/CEA, 91198, Gif sur Yvette, France

    M. Kanakidou, B. Bonsang, J. C. Le Roulley & G. Lambert

  2. Établissement d'Études et de Recherches Météorologiques, 78470, Magny les Hameaux, France

    D. Martin & G. Sennequier

Authors
  1. M. Kanakidou
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  2. B. Bonsang
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  3. J. C. Le Roulley
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  4. G. Lambert
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  5. D. Martin
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  6. G. Sennequier
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Kanakidou, M., Bonsang, B., Roulley, J. et al. Marine source of atmospheric acetylene. Nature 333, 51–52 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333051a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333051a0

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