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.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rudolph, J. & Ehhalt, D. H. J. geophys. Res. 86, 11959–11964 (1981).
Nelson, P. F., Quigley, S. M. & Smith, M. Y. Atmos. Envir. 17, 439–449 (1982).
Bonsang, B., Kanakidou, M., Lambert, G. J. atmos. Chem. 6, 3–20 (1988).
Bonsang, B. & Lambert, G. J. atmos. Chem. 2, 257–271 (1985).
Gaudry, A., Ascencio, J. M. & Lambert, G. J. geophys. Res. 88, 1323–1329 (1983).
Steele, L. P. et al. J. atmos. Chem. 5, 125–171 (1987).
Heidt, L. E. et al. J. geophys. Res. 85, 7329–7336 (1980).
Perry, R. H. & Chilton, C. H. Chemical Engineers' Handbook, 5th edn (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1973).
Greenberg, J. P. & Zimmerman, P. R. J. geophys. Res. 89, 4767–4778 (1984).
Rudolph, J., Ehhalt, D. H. & Khedim, A. J. atmos. Chem. 2, 117–124 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kanakidou, M., Bonsang, B., Roulley, J. et al. Marine source of atmospheric acetylene. Nature 333, 51–52 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333051a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333051a0
This article is cited by
-
How much oxygen is needed for acetylene to be consumed in soil?
Journal of Soils and Sediments (2011)
-
Direct detection of acetylene in air by continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Applied Physics B (2010)
-
Measurements of stable carbon isotopic composition of ethane and propane over the western North Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean: A useful indicator of atmospheric transport process
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry (2007)
-
Light hydrocarbons in the surface water of the mid-Atlantic
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry (1992)
-
NMHC in the marine atmosphere: Preliminary results of monitoring at Amsterdam Island
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry (1990)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.