Testing the relationship between the solar radiation dose and surface DMS concentrations using in situ data

The proposed strong positive relationship between dimethylsulphide (DMS) concentration and the solar radiation dose (SRD) received into the surface ocean is tested using data from the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) programme. In situ, daily data sampled concurrently with DMS concentrations is used for the component variables of the SRD (mixed layer depth, MLD, surface insolation, I0, and a light attenuation coefficient, k) to calculate SRDinsitu. This is the first time in situ data for all of the components, including k, has been used to test the SRD-DMS relationship over large spatial scales. We find a significant correlation (ρ=0.55 n=65 p