CERTAINTY

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Published February 16, 2026 | Version v1
Journal article Open

The biogenic sulfur cycle in the coupled ocean–sea ice–atmosphere system

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Kanazawa University
  • 2. Colorado State University
  • 3. CNRS
  • 4. ROR icon Paul Scherrer Institute
  • 5. ROR icon University of Liège
  • 6. ROR icon Fund for Scientific Research
  • 7. ROR icon Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
  • 8. ROR icon University of Victoria
  • 9. ROR icon Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • 10. ROR icon Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
  • 11. ROR icon Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales
  • 12. ROR icon Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion
  • 13. University of Tasmania
  • 14. ROR icon Princeton University
  • 15. ROR icon Hokkaido University
  • 16. ROR icon University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • 17. EDMO icon Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
  • 18. ROR icon Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement
  • 19. ROR icon Institut de Ciències del Mar
  • 20. ROR icon University of Groningen
  • 21. ROR icon Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Description

Polar oceans and sea-ice regions are global hot spots for the production of biogenic volatile methylated sulfur (VMS) compounds: dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and methanethiol (MeSH). VMS compounds make important contributions to atmospheric particle formation and cloud property modulation, especially when polar atmospheres are pristine. As a result, the polar biogenic sulfur cycle may induce significant climate feedback in response to ongoing sea ice decline. However, polar VMS production, emission, and atmospheric oxidation processes remain poorly represented in current numerical models, hampering assessments of their radiative impacts and, in turn, implementation of targeted observations necessary for providing predictive understanding of changes in the ocean–sea ice–atmosphere (OIA) system. We synthesize current knowledge of the polar biogenic sulfur cycle and its representation in models. To untangle the existing gaps and provide a roadmap toward predictive understanding, we identify key features of sea ice habitats for biological VMS production, sea ice physical features that enhance or suppress VMS emissions, and atmospheric VMS oxidation at low temperatures that controls the contribution of oxidation products to particle formation or growth. These features are tightly coupled, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts across disciplines that span the OIA interface, and among observational, experimental, and modeling communities. We recommend 4 priority research areas: (1) model representation of biological VMS production at the sea ice bottom and surface; (2) improved quantification of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sensitivity to VMS emissions with updated gas phase and multiphase oxidation chemistry at low temperatures; (3) better spatial and seasonal quantification of MeSH abundance and its biological and chemical controls in sea-ice environments; and (4) assessment of the contribution of episodic extreme VMS emissions during sea ice breakup for the polar CCN budget.

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Additional details

Funding

Scientific Committee On Oceanic Research
OCE-2140395
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
80NSSC22K0786
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
KAKENHI JP23K28212
U.S. National Science Foundation
AGS-2211153
U.S. National Science Foundation
CHE-2441875
U.S. National Science Foundation
OPP-2000493
European Commission
CRiceS - Climate relevant interactions and feedbacks: the key role of sea ice and snow in the polar and global climate system 101003826
European Commission
CERTAINTY - Cloud-aERosol inTeractions & their impActs IN The earth sYstem 101137680
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
European Research Council
ERC-2018-AdG 834162
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
GOOSE PID2022-140872NB-I00
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence CEX2019-000928-S
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
POF-IV
Australian Government
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership ASCI000002
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
Ocean Circulation and ecosystem variability and predictability research in the earth system model PEA0175
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NA23OAR4320198
Fund for Scientific Research