Open AccessIsotopic evidence for acidity-driven enhancement of sulfate formation after SO 2 emission control
Author(s) -
Shohei Hattori,
Yoshinori Iizuka,
Becky Alexander,
Sakiko Ishino,
Koji Fujita,
Shumenghui Zhai,
Tomás Sherwen,
Naga Oshima,
Ryu Uemura,
A. Yamada,
Nozomi Suzuki,
Sumito Matoba,
Asuka Tsuruta,
Joël Savarino,
Naohiro Yoshida
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.928
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 2375-2548
DOI - 10.1126/sciadv.abd4610
Subject(s) - sulfate , ice core , environmental chemistry , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , geology , oceanography , organic chemistry
After the 1980s, atmospheric sulfate reduction is slower than the dramatic reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions. However, a lack of observational evidence has hindered the identification of causal feedback mechanisms. Here, we report an increase in the oxygen isotopic composition of sulfate ([Formula: see text]) in a Greenland ice core, implying an enhanced role of acidity-dependent in-cloud oxidation by ozone (up to 17 to 27%) in sulfate production since the 1960s. A global chemical transport model reproduces the magnitude of the increase in observed [Formula: see text] with a 10 to 15% enhancement in the conversion efficiency from SO 2 to sulfate in Eastern North America and Western Europe. With an expected continued decrease in atmospheric acidity, this feedback will continue in the future and partially hinder air quality improvements.