Carbon disulfide measurements in the atmosphere of the western North Atlantic and the northwestern south Atlantic oceans

Abstract

Carbon disulfide (CS 2 ) measurements were made over the western and equatorial North Atlantic Ocean and the northwestern and equatorial South Atlantic Ocean. Carbon disulfide was in the range 0.4–50 pptrv in the atmosphere of the western North Atlantic Ocean. Emissions from anthropogenic sources and wet lands were found to be important although anthropogenic sources were 4–6 times larger than biogenic sources. The flux of CS 2 from eastern North America between 30 and 39° latitude was estimated to be 2 × 10 8 g yr −1 of sulfur. The anthropogenic contribution was 1.8 × 10 8 g yr −1 of sulfur whereas the contribution of marshes was 0.2 × 10 8 g yr −1 of sulfur. Sources of CS 2 at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere were comparatively weak. Carbon disulfide levels in the western South Atlantic Ocean between −5 and 1° latitude were in the range 0.2–6 pptrv. Most of the CS 2 appeared to come from biomass burning in Africa. Carbon disulfide was much higher close to shore suggesting that the South American continent was a significant source although too few data were available to quantify it. On ferry flights from Wallops, Virginia to Natal, Brazil, CS 2 levels at the ferry altitude of about 6 km averaged 1.2 pptrv. This background CS 2 was adequate to account for all the OCS in the atmosphere.