Atmospheric hydrogen sulfide over the equatorial Pacific (SAGA 3)

Journal Article · Mon Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD00451· OSTI ID:83368

Yvon, S A; Cooper, D J; Saltzman, E S ^[1]; Koropalov, V ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Miami, FL (United States)

Atmospheric H{sub 2}S concentrations were measured over the equatorial Pacific on leg 1 of the third Soviet-American Gases and Aerosols (SAGA 3) cruise during February and March 1990. Five N-S transects were made across the equator between Hawaii and American Samoa. The concentrations ranged from below the detection limit of 0.4 {+-} 0.5 (1{sigma}) to 14.4 ppt with an average value of 3.6 {+-} 2.3 ppt (1{sigma}, n = 72). The highest concentrations were found on the easternmost two transects just south of the equator. The average concentration of 3.6 ppt observed on this cruise is the lowest reported value for background atmospheric H{sub 2}S over the tropical oceans. A lack of correlation between {sup 222}Rn and H{sub 2}S in this region is in the range of 9 to 21 x 10{sup {minus}8} mol m{sup {minus}2} d{sup {minus}1}. From this flux the concentration of free sulfide (H{sub 2}S + S{sup 2{minus}}) in the surface mixed layer of the ocean is estimated to be in the range of 32 to 67 pmol L{sup {minus}1}. In the atmospheric the oxidation of H{sub 2}S produces SO{sub 2} at a rate of 2.1 to 4.4 x 10{sup {minus}11} mol m{sup {minus}3} d{sup {minus}1} which is only a small fraction of that estimated from the oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in this region. A diurnal cycle was not observed in the H{sub 2}S data recorded during this cruise. 26 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 83368
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D9 Vol. 98; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EQUATOR
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
PACIFIC OCEAN