The supersaturation of carbonyl sulfide in surface waters of the Pacific Ocean off Peru

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) was found to be supersaturated by a factor averaging 2.6 with respect to the atmosphere in surface waters of the continental shelf of Peru. The degree of supersaturation was correlated with dissolved dimethyl sulfide (DMS) concentrations indicating a possible biogenic source of atmospheric COS. The oceanic source of COS could account for a substantial fraction of the COS flux to the atmosphere.