Global distributions of carbonyl sufide in the upper troposphere and stratosphere

Michael P. Barkley; Paul I. Palmer; Chris D. Boone; Peter F. Bernath; Parvadha Suntharalingam

doi:10.1029/2008GL034270

Global distributions of carbonyl sufide in the upper troposphere and stratosphere

Michael P. Barkley, Paul I. Palmer, Chris D. Boone, Peter F. Bernath, Parvadha Suntharalingam

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Abstract

We present the first upper tropospheric and stratospheric global distributions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) observed from space using solar occultation measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite Fourier transform spectrometer during 2004–2006. We observe high OCS mixing ratios (>400 pptv) within the tropical stratosphere owing to convected tropospheric air. Stratospheric mixing ratios decrease more rapidly with altitude moving away from the Equator, creating a poleward gradient. Elevated OCS concentrations observed at low southern latitudes are consistent with a significant pyrogenic source. Using coincident ACE measurements of CFC-11 and CFC-12 we determine a global OCS stratospheric lifetime of 64 ± 21 years corresponding to a stratospheric sink of 63–124 Gg OCS yr-1.

Original language	English
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	35
Issue number	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034270
Publication status	Published - 2008

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10.1029/2008GL034270

Cite this

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title = "Global distributions of carbonyl sufide in the upper troposphere and stratosphere",

abstract = "We present the first upper tropospheric and stratospheric global distributions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) observed from space using solar occultation measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite Fourier transform spectrometer during 2004–2006. We observe high OCS mixing ratios (>400 pptv) within the tropical stratosphere owing to convected tropospheric air. Stratospheric mixing ratios decrease more rapidly with altitude moving away from the Equator, creating a poleward gradient. Elevated OCS concentrations observed at low southern latitudes are consistent with a significant pyrogenic source. Using coincident ACE measurements of CFC-11 and CFC-12 we determine a global OCS stratospheric lifetime of 64 ± 21 years corresponding to a stratospheric sink of 63–124 Gg OCS yr-1.",

author = "Barkley, {Michael P.} and Palmer, {Paul I.} and Boone, {Chris D.} and Bernath, {Peter F.} and Parvadha Suntharalingam",

year = "2008",

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language = "English",

volume = "35",

journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

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publisher = "American Geophysical Union",

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T1 - Global distributions of carbonyl sufide in the upper troposphere and stratosphere

AU - Barkley, Michael P.

AU - Palmer, Paul I.

AU - Boone, Chris D.

AU - Bernath, Peter F.

AU - Suntharalingam, Parvadha

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - We present the first upper tropospheric and stratospheric global distributions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) observed from space using solar occultation measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite Fourier transform spectrometer during 2004–2006. We observe high OCS mixing ratios (>400 pptv) within the tropical stratosphere owing to convected tropospheric air. Stratospheric mixing ratios decrease more rapidly with altitude moving away from the Equator, creating a poleward gradient. Elevated OCS concentrations observed at low southern latitudes are consistent with a significant pyrogenic source. Using coincident ACE measurements of CFC-11 and CFC-12 we determine a global OCS stratospheric lifetime of 64 ± 21 years corresponding to a stratospheric sink of 63–124 Gg OCS yr-1.

AB - We present the first upper tropospheric and stratospheric global distributions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) observed from space using solar occultation measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite Fourier transform spectrometer during 2004–2006. We observe high OCS mixing ratios (>400 pptv) within the tropical stratosphere owing to convected tropospheric air. Stratospheric mixing ratios decrease more rapidly with altitude moving away from the Equator, creating a poleward gradient. Elevated OCS concentrations observed at low southern latitudes are consistent with a significant pyrogenic source. Using coincident ACE measurements of CFC-11 and CFC-12 we determine a global OCS stratospheric lifetime of 64 ± 21 years corresponding to a stratospheric sink of 63–124 Gg OCS yr-1.

U2 - 10.1029/2008GL034270

DO - 10.1029/2008GL034270

M3 - Article

VL - 35

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

SN - 0094-8276

IS - 14

ER -