Direct measurements of DMS flux from Antarctic fast sea ice to the atmosphere by a chamber technique

We present the first direct measurements of dimethylsulfide (DMS) emissions from Antarctic sea ice to the atmosphere during the seasonal warming period obtained using a chamber technique. Estimated DMS fluxes measured over the snow and superimposed ice (ice formed by the freezing of snow meltwater) were from 0.1 to 0.3 mu mol m(-2) d(-1). The DMS fluxes measured directly over the sea-ice slush layer after removal of the snow and superimposed ice, ranged from 0.1 to 5.3 mu mol m(-2) d(-1), were large compared to those measured over the snow and superimposed ice. The DMS concentrations in slush water ranged from 1.0 to 103.7 nM. The DMS fluxes increased with increasing DMS concentrations in slush water. Our results indicate that the potential DMS flux measured over the slush layer occurred originally from the slush layer, and was dependent on the DMS concentrations in slush water. However, snow accumulation and the formation of superimposed ice over the slush layer significantly blocks the diffusion of DMS to the atmosphere, with the result that DMS tends to accumulate in the slush layer although the removal process of DMS by photolysis reaction can modify the DMS flux from the slush layer. Hence, the slush layer has the potential to release the DMS to the atmosphere and ocean when the snow and superimposed ice melts.