diff --git a/src/dune b/src/dune
index aef121fa..268cf4cb 100644
--- a/src/dune
+++ b/src/dune
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  (name opentelemetry)
  (synopsis "API for opentelemetry instrumentation")
  (flags :standard -warn-error -a+8)
- (libraries ptime ptime.clock.os pbrt threads)
+ (libraries ptime ptime.clock.os pbrt threads opentelemetry.atomic)
  (public_name opentelemetry))
 
 ; ### protobuf rules ###
diff --git a/src/integrations/cohttp/opentelemetry_cohttp_lwt.ml b/src/integrations/cohttp/opentelemetry_cohttp_lwt.ml
index db33c233..4938cd47 100644
--- a/src/integrations/cohttp/opentelemetry_cohttp_lwt.ml
+++ b/src/integrations/cohttp/opentelemetry_cohttp_lwt.ml
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ module Server : sig
    *)
 
   val get_trace_context :
-    ?from:[ `Internal | `External ] -> Request.t -> Otel.Trace.scope option
+    ?from:[ `Internal | `External ] -> Request.t -> Otel.Scope.t option
   (** Get the tracing scope from the custom [x-ocaml-otel-traceparent] header
       added by [trace] and [with_].
    *)
 
-  val set_trace_context : Otel.Trace.scope -> Request.t -> Request.t
+  val set_trace_context : Otel.Scope.t -> Request.t -> Request.t
   (** Set the tracing scope in the custom [x-ocaml-otel-traceparent] header used
       by [trace] and [with_].
    *)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ end = struct
 
   let header_x_ocaml_otel_traceparent = "x-ocaml-otel-traceparent"
 
-  let set_trace_context (scope : Otel.Trace.scope) req =
+  let set_trace_context (scope : Otel.Scope.t) req =
     let module Traceparent = Otel.Trace_context.Traceparent in
     let headers =
       Header.add (Request.headers req) header_x_ocaml_otel_traceparent
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ end = struct
         f req)
 end
 
-let client ?(scope : Otel.Trace.scope option) (module C : Cohttp_lwt.S.Client) =
+let client ?(scope : Otel.Scope.t option) (module C : Cohttp_lwt.S.Client) =
   let module Traced = struct
     open Lwt.Syntax
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ let client ?(scope : Otel.Trace.scope option) (module C : Cohttp_lwt.S.Client) =
       let attrs = attrs_for ~uri ~meth () in
       trace_id, parent, attrs
 
-    let add_traceparent (scope : Otel.Trace.scope) headers =
+    let add_traceparent (scope : Otel.Scope.t) headers =
       let module Traceparent = Otel.Trace_context.Traceparent in
       let headers =
         match headers with
diff --git a/src/lwt/opentelemetry_lwt.ml b/src/lwt/opentelemetry_lwt.ml
index 37fadef6..0bb93bc6 100644
--- a/src/lwt/opentelemetry_lwt.ml
+++ b/src/lwt/opentelemetry_lwt.ml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ module Trace = struct
 
   (** Sync span guard *)
   let with_ ?trace_state ?service_name ?(attrs = []) ?kind ?trace_id ?parent
-      ?scope ?links name (f : Trace.scope -> 'a Lwt.t) : 'a Lwt.t =
+      ?scope ?links name (f : Scope.t -> 'a Lwt.t) : 'a Lwt.t =
     let trace_id =
       match trace_id, scope with
       | Some trace_id, _ -> trace_id
diff --git a/src/opentelemetry.ml b/src/opentelemetry.ml
index c2fde0d0..40c4fa98 100644
--- a/src/opentelemetry.ml
+++ b/src/opentelemetry.ml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 (** Opentelemetry types and instrumentation *)
 
+module Thread_local = Thread_local
+
 module Lock = Lock
 (** Global lock *)
 
@@ -482,6 +484,53 @@ end = struct
     default_span_event ~time_unix_nano ~name ~attributes:attrs ()
 end
 
+(** {2 Scopes} *)
+
+(** Scopes.
+
+    A scope is a trace ID and the span ID of the currently active span.
+*)
+module Scope = struct
+  type t = {
+    trace_id: Trace_id.t;
+    span_id: Span_id.t;
+    mutable events: Event.t list;
+    mutable attrs: key_value list;
+  }
+
+  (** Add an event to the scope. It will be aggregated into the span.
+
+      Note that this takes a function that produces an event, and will only
+      call it if there is an instrumentation backend. *)
+  let[@inline] add_event (scope : t) (ev : unit -> Event.t) : unit =
+    if Collector.has_backend () then scope.events <- ev () :: scope.events
+
+  (** Add an attr to the scope. It will be aggregated into the span.
+
+      Note that this takes a function that produces attributes, and will only
+      call it if there is an instrumentation backend. *)
+  let[@inline] add_attrs (scope : t) (attrs : unit -> key_value list) : unit =
+    if Collector.has_backend () then
+      scope.attrs <- List.rev_append (attrs ()) scope.attrs
+
+  (**/**)
+
+  (* define this locally *)
+  let _global_scope : t Thread_local.t = Thread_local.create ()
+
+  (**/**)
+
+  (** Obtain current scope from thread-local storage, if available *)
+  let get_surrounding ?scope () : t option =
+    match scope with
+    | Some _ -> scope
+    | None -> Thread_local.get _global_scope
+end
+
+open struct
+  let get_surrounding_scope = Scope.get_surrounding
+end
+
 (** Span Link
 
    A pointer from the current span to another span in the same trace or in a
@@ -648,45 +697,45 @@ module Trace = struct
     let rs = make_resource_spans ?service_name ?attrs spans in
     Collector.send_trace [ rs ] ~ret:(fun () -> ())
 
-  type scope = {
+  type scope = Scope.t = {
     trace_id: Trace_id.t;
     span_id: Span_id.t;
     mutable events: Event.t list;
     mutable attrs: Span.key_value list;
   }
-  (** Scope to be used with {!with_}. *)
+  [@@deprecated "use Scope.t"]
 
-  (** Add an event to the scope. It will be aggregated into the span.
+  let add_event = Scope.add_event [@@deprecated "use Scope.add_event"]
 
-      Note that this takes a function that produces an event, and will only
-      call it if there is an instrumentation backend. *)
-  let[@inline] add_event (scope : scope) (ev : unit -> Event.t) : unit =
-    if Collector.has_backend () then scope.events <- ev () :: scope.events
-
-  (** Add an attr to the scope. It will be aggregated into the span.
-
-      Note that this takes a function that produces attributes, and will only
-      call it if there is an instrumentation backend. *)
-  let[@inline] add_attrs (scope : scope) (attrs : unit -> Span.key_value list) :
-      unit =
-    if Collector.has_backend () then
-      scope.attrs <- List.rev_append (attrs ()) scope.attrs
+  let add_attrs = Scope.add_attrs [@@deprecated "use Scope.add_attrs"]
 
   (** Sync span guard.
 
+      @param force_new_trace_id if true (default false), the span will not use a
+      surrounding context, or [scope], or [trace_id], but will always
+      create a fresh new trace ID.
+
       {b NOTE} be careful not to call this inside a Gc alarm, as it can
       cause deadlocks. *)
-  let with_ ?trace_state ?service_name
+  let with_ ?(force_new_trace_id = false) ?trace_state ?service_name
       ?(attrs : (string * [< value ]) list = []) ?kind ?trace_id ?parent ?scope
-      ?links name (f : scope -> 'a) : 'a =
+      ?links name (f : Scope.t -> 'a) : 'a =
+    let scope =
+      if force_new_trace_id then
+        None
+      else
+        get_surrounding_scope ?scope ()
+    in
     let trace_id =
       match trace_id, scope with
+      | _ when force_new_trace_id -> Trace_id.create ()
       | Some trace_id, _ -> trace_id
       | None, Some scope -> scope.trace_id
       | None, None -> Trace_id.create ()
     in
     let parent =
       match parent, scope with
+      | _ when force_new_trace_id -> None
       | Some span_id, _ -> Some span_id
       | None, Some scope -> Some scope.span_id
       | None, None -> None
@@ -694,7 +743,8 @@ module Trace = struct
     let start_time = Timestamp_ns.now_unix_ns () in
     let span_id = Span_id.create () in
     let scope = { trace_id; span_id; events = []; attrs } in
-
+    (* set global scope in this thread *)
+    Thread_local.with_ Scope._global_scope scope @@ fun _sc ->
     (* called once we're done, to emit a span *)
     let finally res =
       let status =
diff --git a/src/thread_local.ml b/src/thread_local.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06d54bcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thread_local.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+module A = Opentelemetry_atomic.Atomic
+
+type key = int
+
+let get_key_ () : key = Thread.id (Thread.self ())
+
+module Key_map_ = Map.Make (struct
+  type t = key
+
+  let compare : t -> t -> int = compare
+end)
+
+type 'a t = 'a ref Key_map_.t A.t
+
+let create () : _ t = A.make Key_map_.empty
+
+let get_exn (self : _ t) =
+  let m = A.get self in
+  let key = get_key_ () in
+  !(Key_map_.find key m)
+
+let[@inline] get self = try Some (get_exn self) with Not_found -> None
+
+let[@inline] get_or ~default self = try get_exn self with Not_found -> default
+
+(* remove reference for the key *)
+let[@inline] remove_ref_ self key : unit =
+  while
+    let m = A.get self in
+    let m' = Key_map_.remove key m in
+    not (A.compare_and_set self m m')
+  do
+    ()
+  done
+
+(* get or associate a reference to [key], and return it.
+   Also return a function to remove the reference if we just created it. *)
+let get_or_create_ref_ (self : _ t) key ~v : _ ref * _ option =
+  try
+    let r = Key_map_.find key (A.get self) in
+    let old = !r in
+    r := v;
+    r, Some old
+  with Not_found ->
+    let r = ref v in
+    while
+      let m = A.get self in
+      let m' = Key_map_.add key r m in
+      not (A.compare_and_set self m m')
+    do
+      ()
+    done;
+    r, None
+
+let with_ self v f =
+  let key = get_key_ () in
+  let r, old = get_or_create_ref_ self key ~v in
+
+  let restore_ () : unit =
+    match old with
+    | None -> remove_ref_ self key
+    | Some old -> r := old
+  in
+
+  try
+    let res = f old in
+    restore_ ();
+    res
+  with e ->
+    restore_ ();
+    raise e
diff --git a/src/thread_local.mli b/src/thread_local.mli
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ecd162f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thread_local.mli
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+(** Thread/Domain local storage
+
+    This allows the creation of global state that is per-domain or per-thread.
+*)
+
+type 'a t
+
+val create : unit -> 'a t
+(** Create new storage *)
+
+val get : 'a t -> 'a option
+(** Get current value *)
+
+val get_exn : 'a t -> 'a
+(** Like {!get} but fails with an exception
+    @raise Not_found if no value was found *)
+
+val with_ : 'a t -> 'a -> ('a option -> 'b) -> 'b
+(** [with_ var x f] sets [var] to [x] for this thread, calls [f prev] where
+    [prev] is the value currently in [var] (if any), and
+    then restores the old value of [var] for this thread. *)
diff --git a/tests/bin/emit1.ml b/tests/bin/emit1.ml
index d5196413..faaeca12 100644
--- a/tests/bin/emit1.ml
+++ b/tests/bin/emit1.ml
@@ -23,16 +23,17 @@ let run_job () =
   let@ () = Fun.protect ~finally:(fun () -> Atomic.set stop true) in
   let i = ref 0 in
   while not @@ Atomic.get stop do
-    let@ scope =
+    let@ _scope =
       Atomic.incr num_tr;
       T.Trace.with_ ~kind:T.Span.Span_kind_producer "loop.outer"
         ~attrs:[ "i", `Int !i ]
     in
 
     for j = 0 to 4 do
+      (* parent scope is found via thread local storage *)
       let@ scope =
         Atomic.incr num_tr;
-        T.Trace.with_ ~kind:T.Span.Span_kind_internal ~scope
+        T.Trace.with_ ~kind:T.Span.Span_kind_internal
           ~attrs:[ "j", `Int j ]
           "loop.inner"
       in