Relationship between methanesulfonate (MS−) in atmospheric particulate and remotely sensed phytoplankton activity in oligo-mesotrophic central Mediterranean Sea

During spring 2005 high biomass and primary productivity values are observed in February and April, just one month before the peaks of atmospheric MS− (March and May). The occurrence of anomalously high values at this time is hypothesized to be related to the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, and to related oceanic and atmospheric processes. The possible role of the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton assemblages is also discussed.