An Airborne Study of the Chemistry of Sulfur in the Atmosphere of the Western North Pacific Ocean

Drexel University, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

Measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) will be performed on board the C-130 aircraft during ACE-Asia (Aerosol Characterization Experiment). A recently developed instrument will be deployed that is capable of measuring SO2 at a frequency of 1 Hz and a detection limit of 1 ppt. The instrument is based on atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometery (APIMS). Isotopically labelled SO2 will be used as an external standard. The fast response time will make it possible to rapidly identify different atmospheric layers. Of particular interest in the ACE-Asia program will be urban pollution layers (high in SO2) and dust layers, and the question of the degree to which dust and SO2 interact chemically.