The “ indirect effect of aerosols” refers to their ability to influence cloud radiative properties, and is considered to be one of the larger uncertainties in climate prediction. Oceans cover about 70% of the world’s surface and the aerosols that they produce are therefore likely to represent an important part of the indirect effect. A description of the ultimate sources of all aerosol constituents and their susceptibility to climate change is then required in order to assess the potential of an aerosol- cloud- climate feedback. Here we argue that in the high Arctic in summer, cloud condensation nuclei ( CCN) concentration is not determined by the oxidation products of dimethyl- sulfide as has usually been assumed but by the concentration in the air of small insoluble organic particles derived from the surface microlayer of the ocean by bubble bursting, on which the acid gases condense. Examination of the aerosol over lower latitude oceans suggests that similar processes occur over all oceans.