On the absorption of SO2 in ocean water

The role which the ocean plays with respect to the atmospheric sulfur budget is still unclear. It is known that the ocean is an important source of sulfat-containing particles, but opinions differ on the question: Is the ocean a sink or a source of SO₂ and H₂S? In this paper, on the basis of laboratory investigations, the absorption and desorption of SO₂ by sea water is discussed. The results of our measurements show that the ocean is an SO₂-sink and presumably cannot be a direct SO₂-source. The possibility of an indirect source of SO₂ is considered in a discussion of current literature on H2S-oxidation in ocean water.