Hydrogen sulfide and radon in and over the western North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Measured values for 222Rn ranged from 3 to 70 pCi m-3, those for atmospheric hydrogen sulfide from 1 to 85 parts per trillion, and those for dissolved total and free sulfide in seawater from 33 to 930 pmol L-1, respectively. A positive correlation between 222Rn and atmospheric H2S was observed. Both 222Rn and H2S were high in air masses traced back to North America. Measurements in seawater showed that uncomplexed sulfides were approximately 13% of total sulfide at 2 m depth. Atmospheric H2S and dissolved H2S in seawater were usually not far from saturation equilibrium. On a global scale the ocean/atmosphere exchange of H2S appears to play a minor role in the atmospheric sulfur cycle. -from Authors