Marine isoprene emission estimates vary significantly, hindering understanding of their spatiotemporal variations. This study uses Himawari-8 observations and model simulations to estimate marine isoprene emissions in the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans. Unexpectedly high emissions were found in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean (CEPO), exceeding those in the North and South Pacific. Remarkably, CEPO emissions increased by 5.5 ± 0.1% per year (2015-2020), with no significant trends elsewhere. Satellite observations suggest NO2 plays a crucial role in aerosol formation from isoprene in the remote ocean.

Wentai Zhang, Dasa Gu