Marine nitrogen fixation as a possible source of atmospheric water-soluble organic nitrogen aerosols in the subtropical North Pacific.

Water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) in marine atmospheric aerosols affect the water-solubility, acidity, and light-absorbing properties of aerosol particles, which are important parameters in assessing both the climate impact and the biogeochemical cycling of bioelements. Size-segregated aerosol and surface seawater (SSW) samples were simultaneously collected over the subtropical North Pacific to investigate the origin of WSON in the marine atmosphere. The fine-mode WSON concentration (7.5±6.6 ngN m⁻³) at 200–240º E along 23º N defined as the eastern North Pacific (ENP) was significantly higher than that (2.4±1.9 ngN m⁻³) at 135–200º E, defined as the western North Pacific (WNP). Analysis of the stable carbon isotope ratio of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) (δ¹³C_WSOC) together with backward trajectory indicated that most of the observed WSON in the fine particles in the ENP originated from the ocean surface. We found a significant positive correlation between the WSON concentrations and nitrogen fixation rate in SSW. The result indicates that reactive nitrogen (dissolved organic nitrogen and ammonium), produced and exuded by nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in SSW, contributed to the formation of WSON aerosols. This study provides new insights into the role of ocean-derived reactive nitrogen aerosols associated with marine microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]