Atmospheric sulfur and hydroxyl radical measurements at Palmer Station

On a global scale, antarctic coastal waters are among the most productive oceanic regions and show extremely high DMS emission rates during austral summer (Gibson et al. 1988). Following its release into the atmosphere, DMS is rapidly oxidized by the hydroxyl radical (OH), which itself is produced via photolysis of ozone and subsequent reaction of excited singlet oxygen [O(¹D)] with water vapor. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the hydroxyl radical has been directly measured in Antarctica. Although analysis of the present, fairly extensive data set is still in the early stages, it is already evident that the results from SCATE will significantly enhance our understanding of atmospheric DMS chemistry and particle production in the antarctic troposphere.