Total chlorine content in the lower stratosphere

Journal Article · Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 EST 1952 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6449114

Gallagher, C C; Forsberg, C A; Mason, A S; Gandrud, B W; Janghorbani, M

A cryogenic whole air sampler and a filter sampler were used, simultaneously, on a balloon platform to capture and preserve all significant stratospheric chlorine species with the exception of Cl and ClO at altitudes of 15, 20, 25, and 30 km. The whole air samples were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine mixing ratios of CF/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/, CFCl/sub 3/, CH/sub 3/Cl, CH/sub 3/CCl/sub 3/, and CCl/sub 4/. Liquid extractions of the filter samples were analyzed for acidic and particulate chlorine content using neutron activation and wet chemistry techniques. Summation of the contributions from the major species produced total chlorine mixing ratios that decreased from 2.6 ppbv at 15 km to 2.2--2.5 ppbv for the higher altitudes. Omission of Cl and ClO introduced about a 3--7% error at 25--30 km and negligible error at 15 and 20 km. The combined contributions of all other omitted species introduced 1--2% error to the total chlorine values for all altitudes investigated. The increase in total acidic species content with increasing altitude correlates with the decrease in the mixing ratios of the chlorine species of tropospheric origin.

• Research Organization: Ionospheric Physics Division, Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 6449114
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 90:D6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
STRATOSPHERE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ABUNDANCE
ALTITUDE
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
FREONS
METHYL CHLORIDE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
640200* - Atmospheric Physics