Methanol Concentrations and Biological Methanol Consumption in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Methanol metabolism can play an important role in marine carbon cycling. We made contemporaneous measurements of methanol concentration and consumption rates the northwest Pacific Ocean to constrain pathways dynamics was detected relatively low concentrations (<12–391 nM), likely due rapid biological turnover. Rates oxidation CO2 (0.9–130.5 nmol L−1 day−1) were much higher than those assimilation into biomass (0.09–6.8 day−1), suggesting that >89.7% utilized as energy source. Surface water acted a net sink at most sites, with average flux 9 μmol day−1. Atmospheric deposition accounted for 22.7% microbial mixed layer, illustrating atmosphere is less internal processes driving cycling these pelagic waters.