The abundance of atomic sulfur in the atmosphere of Io

Observations with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope have been used to constrain the atomic sulfur column density in Io s atmosphere. The S I lambda1479 dipole allowed and forbidden transition multiplets have been resolved for the first time at Io, enabling the study of both optically thick and thin transitions from a single atomic species. The allowed transitions contribute 62% +/- 8% and the forbidden transitions 38% +/- 8%, on average, to the total signal of the S I lambda1479 multiplets. Using the optically thick and thin transitions of S I lambda1479 observed near the limbs of Io, we derive a tangential atmospheric sulfur column abundance of 3.6 x 10(12) cm(-2) < N-S < 1.7 x 10(13) cm(-2), which is independent of electron temperature and density. A low-density SO2 atmosphere, N-SO2 similar to (5-10) x 10(15) cm(-2), consistent with that inferred from other recent observations, is most consistent with these bounds.