Publication Date:
2015-10-22
Description:
Transport of OCS from the troposphere to the stratosphere contributes sulfur to the stratospheric aerosol layer, which reflects incoming short-wave solar radiation, cooling the climate system. Previous analyses of OCS observations have shown no significant trend, suggesting that OCS is unlikely to be a major contributor to the reported increases in stratospheric aerosol loading and indicating a balanced OCS budget. Here we present analyses of ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) measurements of OCS at three Southern Hemisphere sites spanning 34.45°S to 77.80°S. At all three sites statistically significant positive trends are seen from 2001–2014 with an observed overall trend in total column OCS at Wollongong of 0.73 ± 0.03%/year, at Lauder of 0.43 ± 0.02%/year and at Arrival Heights of 0.45 ± 0.05%/year. These observed trends in OCS imply that the OCS budget in not balanced and could contribute to constraints on current estimates of sources and sinks.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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