Sources and sinks of atmospheric H/sub 2/S

Journal Article · Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC085iC10p05639· OSTI ID:7061142

Jaeschke, W; Claude, H; Herrmann, J

In recent years, trace concentrations of H/sub 2/S have been measured employing a fluorescence analytical method. Automatization of the method caused enhancement of its analytical capacity. Thus it became possible to observe variations of the H/sub 2/S concentration during days, months, and years at different sampling sites. The obtained data showed that swamps and tidal flats are natural sources of H/sub 2/S. Their contributions to the atmospheric sulfur cycle are compared with those of volcanic activity measured at Etna (Italy) and with those of anthropogenic activity measured in the environment of Frankfurt (Germany). The observed daily and seasonal variations of the H/sub 2/S concentrations showed that photochemical reactions are probably the main sink of atmospheric H/sub 2/S. The measured data of a vertical H/sub 2/S concentration profile were used to calculate a mean removal coefficient for H/sub 2/S of 2.27 x 10/sup -5/ s/sup -1/, corresponding to a mean lifetime of 12.2 hours. The removal coefficient is compared with the reaction constants of some photochemical processes which may determine the atmospheric removal of H/sub 2/S. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the reaction of H/sub 2/S with OH radicals is the main sink of atmospheric H/sub 2/S.

• Research Organization: Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
• OSTI ID: 7061142
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 85:C10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORESCENCE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
QUANTITY RATIO
SWAMPS
TRACE AMOUNTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LUMINESCENCE
NUMERICAL DATA
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)