Air-sea exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOCs): a missing link between the sea surface carbon pool and the reactive carbon in the atmosphere

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere, which largely controls the removal of short-lived climate forcers (eg methane and ozone). VOCs also leads to the formation of organic aerosols, which directly and indirectly affects the radiative balance of the atmosphere. Airborne observations of VOCs in the vastness of remote troposphere, especially oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) such as acetaldehyde and acetone, are often underestimated by current chemistry-climate models. Ocean plays a key role in the budget of OVOCs in the remote regions, yet the air-sea exchange of OVOCs remains poorly understood, especially the role of ocean biogeochemistry.