In the atmosphere, gaseous sulfuric acid can form particles that influence the physical properties of clouds. Thus, the formation of sulfuric acid in the gas phase directly affects the radiative forcing and Earth's climate.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Laboratory setup of the free-jet flow experiment at TROPOS in Leipzig, with that the experimental proof of the direct formation of sulfuric acid from reduced sulfur compounds has been shown. Credit: Tilo Arnhold, TROPOS In addition to the known formation from sulfur dioxide, researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) have now been able to demonstrate through experiments that there is another formation pathway that has been speculated about for decades. Sulfuric acid in the atmosphere can also be formed directly by the oxidation of organic sulfur compounds. This new production pathway can be responsible for up to half of the gaseous sulfuric acid formation over the oceans and is thus of high importance for climate projections—especially over the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, as the researchers write in the journal Nature Communications. Organic sulfur compounds are mainly emitted from biogenic sources and contribute significantly to Earth's sulfur cycle. The sulfur cycle is important for Earth's climate because the oxidation products of organic sulfur compounds, such as sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) and methanesulfonic acid (MSA, CH 3 SO 3 H), initiate new particle formation. Sulfate particles…