Abstract
The sources and steady-state concentration of singlet oxygen in the atmosphere are assessed in view of potential effects on the biosphere. Collision-induced absorption of sunlight by molecular oxygen in 1 atm of air produces O2 (a1 delta g) at a rate P = 1.6 x 10(9) cm-3 s-1 in bright sunlight. Less than 10% are added to this purely natural source by the photolysis of ozone, and by anthropogenic sensitizers (SO2, NO2, volatile aromatics). Collisional quenching of O2 (a1 delta g) by ground state oxygen establishes a steady-state concentration of ca. 1.7 x 10(8) cm-3. Reactions of singlet oxygen with other atmospheric pollutants are entirely negligible when compared with the concurrent reactions of ambient OH and O3. Potential effects of atmospheric singlet oxygen on the biosphere are limited by the deposition rate F less than or equal to 0.051 P, which depends on the production rate P of O2 (a1 delta g) in the air layer immediately above the flat surface.
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