Other Names

SO₂

Definition

Sulfur Dioxide(SO₂), a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor, is a very water soluble, acidic gas.
SO₂ is one of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) six major regulated criteria pollutants(Tropospheric Ozone, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulfur dioxide, Lead, PM2.5 and PM 10 particulates). It irritates the eyes, nose, and lungs. High concentrations of SO₂ can result in temporary breathing impairment. It is produced by combustion of coal, fuel oil, and gasoline, since these fuels contain sulfur in the combustion, and in the oxidation of naturally occurring sulfur gases. It is a precursor to sulfuric acid, which is a major constituent of acid rain. SO₂ is injected into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions. SO2 also is a major precursor to PM2.5, which is a significant health concern, and a main contributor to poor visibility.

Applications

(1) Atmospheric Chemistry Models	(3) Health and Environment
(2) Air Quality Forecast Models	(4) Climate Change

GES DISC Datasets

Quick Search for 'Sulfur Dioxide' with Mirador
Click on the corresponding 'WHOM access' links in the table below to access products containing specific parameter.

Parameter	Units	Platform /Instrument	Data
			Begin Date	End Date	WHOM Access	Doc
Total Column Abundance of SO2	molecules/cm2	Aura/OMI	2004-08-15	Current	OMSO2.003	Y
Profile of SO2	mixing ratio	Aura/MLS	2004-08-08	Current	ML2SO2.002	Y
SO2 Index	none	Earth Probe/TOMS	1996-07-25	2005-12-31	TOMSEPL2	Y
		Nimbus-7/TOMS	1978-11-01	1993-05-06	TOMSN7L2	Y
SO2 Qualitative Flags	none	Aqua/AIRS	2002-08-30	Current	AIRL2.005	Y
					AIRL3.005	Y

Other sources for data

1. GOME 2. Sciamachy