Sources and cycling of carbonyl sulfide in the Sargasso Sea

The cycling of the radiatively important gas carbonyl sulfide (OCS) was studied in surface waters of the Sargasso Sea. In August 1999, surface OCS concentrations averaged 8.6 pmol L(-1), showed minor diet variations, and varied little with depth. An OCS precursor, total dissolved organic sulfur (DOS), was lowest at the surface (40 nmol L(-1)) and increased with depth. The photoproduction rate of OCS from in situ incubations averaged 9.6 pmol L(-1) h(-1), whereas dark production was 7.0 pmol L(-1) h(-1). Apparent quantum yields were 10(-5)-10(-7) from 313-436 nm and varied with the water depth irradiated. In March 2000, there were strong diet variations in surface OCS (highest in late afternoon; overall average, 16.9 pmol L(-1)). Depth profiles in the afternoon showed surface water maxima and decreases with depth, whereas DOS had a surface maximum of 419 nmol L(-1) and decreased with depth. Dark production was 4.0 pmol L(-1) h(-1). Modeling of the diet cycle suggested a photoproduction rate of 16.4 pmol L(-1) h(-1). Overall, the photochemical production of OCS strongly depended on DOS and chromophoric dissolved organic matter, whereas dark production was influenced by the presence of particles and perhaps microbial respiration, showing a direct biotic influence on OCS cycling.