Abstract
Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) is a non-hygroscopic trace species in the free
troposphere and the primary sulfur reservoir maintained by direct
oceanic, geologic, biogenic and anthropogenic emissions and the
oxidation of other sulfur-containing source species. It’s the largest
source of sulfur transported to the stratosphere during volcanically
quiescent periods. Data from 22 ground-based globally dispersed stations
are used to derive trends in total and partial column OCS. Middle
infrared spectral data are recorded by solar-viewing Fourier transform
interferometers that are operated as part of the Network for the
Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change between 1986 and 2020.
Vertical information in the retrieved profiles provides analysis of
discreet altitudinal regions. Trends are found to have well-defined
inflection points. In two linear trend time periods
~2002 - 2008 and ~2008 - 2016,
tropospheric trends range from ~0.0 to (1.55 ± 0.30
%/y) in contrast to the prior period where all tropospheric trends are
negative. Regression analyses show strongest correlation in the free
troposphere with anthropogenic emissions. Stratospheric trends in the
period ~2008 - 2016 are positive up to (1.93 ± 0.26
%/y) except notably low latitude stations that have negative
stratospheric trends. Since ~2016, all stations show a
free tropospheric decrease to 2020. Stratospheric OCS is regressed with
simultaneously measured N$_2$O to derive a trend accounting for
dynamical variability. Stratospheric lifetimes are derived and range
from (54.1 ± 9.7)y in the sub-tropics to (103.4 ± 18.3)y in Antarctica.
These unique long-term measurements provide new and critical constraints
on the global OCS budget.