Establishing an International, Multidisciplinary Community of Practice for the Study of Methylated Sulfur Compounds in the Ocean: SCOR Working Group DMS-Pro

Organic methylated sulfur compounds (MSCs) play key roles in marine planktonic food webs and are also involved in climate regulation through the emission of aerosol-forming gases (dimethylsulfide and methanethiol). Therefore, the study of MSCs naturally bridges a wide range of disciplines, from molecular ecology, through oceanography, up to Earth System modelling. In 2022, a new SCOR Working Group named DMS-PRO was created to address knowledge gaps in MSC research by (i) compiling an open-access database of MSC cycling rates; (ii) publishing standardized operating practices for the determination of MSC cycling rates; and (iii) providing guidance to data users, e.g. modelers. DMS-PRO nucleates 20 researchers from 14 countries in Asia, North and South America, Oceania, and Europe; including 6 members from low- and upper-middle income countries and 6 early-career researchers. Forming a group with a balanced geographic spread was challenging because researchers focusing in this area of study are overwhelmingly associated to institutions based in developed countries. To reduce this imbalance, an overarching aspiration of DMS-PRO is to stimulate research, build capacity, and establish an international, multidisciplinary community of practice on the oceanic cycle of MSCs that can share knowledge and skills with the broader oceanographic and Earth system science communities. In this presentation we will briefly introduce DMS-PRO, share the lessons learned during the initial phase of the project, and outline our plans for achieving the group’s objectives