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Science 27 August 1993:
Vol. 261. no. 5125, pp. 1146 - 1149
DOI: 10.1126/science.261.5125.1146
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Articles

Chemical Loss of Ozone in the Arctic Polar Vortex in the Winter of 1991-1992

R. J. Salawitch 1, S. C. Wofsy 1, E. W. Gottlieb 1, L. R. Lait 2, P. A. Newman 2, M. R. Schoeberl 2, M. Loewenstein 3, J. R. Podolske 3, S. E. Strahan 2, M. H. Proffitt 4, C. R. Webster 5, R. D. May 5, D. W. Fahey 4, D. Baumgardner 6, J. E. Dye 6, J. C. Wilson 7, K. K. Kelly 4, J. W. Elkins 8, K. R. Chan 3, and J. G. Anderson 9

1 Division of Applied Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
2 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
3 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035
4 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, CO 80303
5 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109
6 National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307
7 Department of Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208
8 NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Boulder, CO 80303
9 Departments of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

In situ measurements of chlorine monoxide, bromine monoxide, and ozone are extrapolated globally, with the use of meteorological tracers, to infer the loss rates for ozone in the Arctic lower stratosphere during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition II (AASE II) in the winter of 1991-1992. The analysis indicates removal of 15 to 20 percent of ambient ozone because of elevated concentrations of chlorine monoxide and bromine monoxide. Observations during AASE II define rates of removal of chlorine monoxide attributable to reaction with nitrogen dioxide (produced by photolysis of nitric acid) and to production of hydrochloric acid. Ozone loss ceased in March as concentrations of chlorine monoxide declined. Ozone losses could approach 50 percent if regeneration of nitrogen dioxide were inhibited by irreversible removal of nitrogen oxides (denitrification), as presently observed in the Antarctic, or without denitrification if inorganic chlorine concentrations were to double.

Submitted on February 26, 1993
Accepted on July 13, 1993


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Metastable Phases in Polar Stratospheric Aerosols.
L. E. Fox, S. C. Wofsy, D. R. Worsnop, and M. S. Zahniser (1995)
Science 267, 351-355
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Probing Stratospheric Ozone.
J. M. Rodriguez (1993)
Science 261, 1128-1129
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The Seasonal Evolution of Reactive Chlorine in the Northern Hemisphere Stratosphere.
D. W. Toohey, L. M. Avallone, L. R. Lait, P. A. Newman, M. R. Schoeberl, D. W. Fahey, E. L. Woodbridge, and J. G. Anderson (1993)
Science 261, 1134-1136
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ozone Loss Inside the Northern Polar Vortex During the 1991-1992 Winter.
M. H. Proffitt, K. Aikin, J. J. Margitan, M. Loewenstein, J. R. Podolske, A. Weaver, K. R. Chan, H. Fast, and J. W. Elkins (1993)
Science 261, 1150-1154
   Abstract »    PDF »


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