Global ocean emission of dimethylsulfide predicted from biogeophysical data

Among the biosphere‐atmosphere interactions that influence climate, the emission of dimethylsulfide (DMS) from the ocean plays a prominent role for its high potential in cloud albedo regulation. In order to advance in our understanding and quantification of this coupled ocean‐atmosphere system, both synoptic and predictive capabilities must be largely improved. Hitherto, large‐scale oceanic DMS has eluded being captured from remote sensing, correlated with synoptic variables, or simulated by mechanistic modeling. We have found a simple empirical relationship that permits global‐ocean monthly distributions of DMS concentration to be computed from a combination of remotely sensed biospheric data (chlorophyll a ) and climatological geophysical data (mixed layer depth). This relationship allows for the desired synopticity and predictability in the ocean‐to‐atmosphere sulfur flux, which we have globally quantified as 23–35 Tg S yr −1 . Also, our algorithm stands in support of a biogenic‐DMS/solar‐radiation negative feedback and opens the door toward quantifying its strength and its response to global warming.