The sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere.

A one-dimensional photochemical model is used to simulate the sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere. CS₂ concentrations reported over the oceans are an order of magnitude higher than those expected on the basis of a 0.5 Tg S yr^-1 source estimated from water column measurements; the discrepancy may reflect continental contaminants. We require a sink for OCS of magnitude 1-4 Tg S yr^-1 in order to balance its budget. Most of the SO₂ in the marine atmosphere apparently derives from oxidation of DMS, which has an estimated source of about 40 Tg S yr^-1. The main loss process for DMS is reaction with OH. SO₂ concentrations increase with altitude in the marine troposphere, while sulfate concentrations decrease with altitude.-from Authors