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Title: Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion

Abstract

Data from satellite, balloon, and ground-station measurements show that ozone loss is strongly correlated with cosmic-ray ionization-rate variations with altitude, latitude, and time. Moreover, our laboratory data indicate that the dissociation induced by cosmic rays for CF{sub 2}Cl {sub 2} and CFCl{sub 3} on ice surfaces in the polar stratosphere at an altitude of {approx}15 km is quite efficient, with estimated rates of 4.3 x 10{sup -5} and 3.6 x 10{sup -4} s{sup -1}, respectively. These findings suggest that dissociation of chlorofluorocarbons by capture of electrons produced by cosmic rays and localized in polar stratospheric cloud ice may play a significant role in causing the ozone hole.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
(US)
OSTI Identifier:
40230963
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 87; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.078501; Othernumber: PRLTAO000087000007078501000001; 049133PRL; PBD: 13 Aug 2001; Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ALTITUDE; CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS; CLOUDS; DISSOCIATION; ELECTRONS; OZONE; STRATOSPHERE

Citation Formats

Lu, Q -B, and Sanche, L. Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion. United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.078501.
Lu, Q -B, & Sanche, L. Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.078501
Lu, Q -B, and Sanche, L. 2001. "Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.078501.
@article{osti_40230963,
title = {Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion},
author = {Lu, Q -B and Sanche, L},
abstractNote = {Data from satellite, balloon, and ground-station measurements show that ozone loss is strongly correlated with cosmic-ray ionization-rate variations with altitude, latitude, and time. Moreover, our laboratory data indicate that the dissociation induced by cosmic rays for CF{sub 2}Cl {sub 2} and CFCl{sub 3} on ice surfaces in the polar stratosphere at an altitude of {approx}15 km is quite efficient, with estimated rates of 4.3 x 10{sup -5} and 3.6 x 10{sup -4} s{sup -1}, respectively. These findings suggest that dissociation of chlorofluorocarbons by capture of electrons produced by cosmic rays and localized in polar stratospheric cloud ice may play a significant role in causing the ozone hole.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.078501},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/40230963}, journal = {Physical Review Letters},
issn = {0031-9007},
number = 7,
volume = 87,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}