Deposition rates of viruses and bacteria above the atmospheric boundary layer.

ABSTRACT: Aerosolization of soil-dust and organic aggregates in sea spray facilitates the long-range transport of bacteria, and likely viruses across the free atmosphere. Although long-distance transport occurs, there are many uncertainties associated with their deposition rates. Here, we demonstrate that even in pristine environments, above the atmospheric boundary layer, the downward flux of viruses ranged from 0.26 × 109 to >7 × 109 m-2 per day. These deposition rates were 9-461 times greater than the rates for bacteria, which ranged from 0.3 × 107 to >8 × 107 m-2 per day. The highest relative deposition rates for viruses were associated with atmospheric transport from marine rather than terrestrial sources. Deposition rates of bacteria were significantly higher during rain events and Saharan dus

SUBMITTER: Reche I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5864199 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature