On replenishing the depleted ozone by its photogeneration in the stratosphere

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Energy Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00908319508946097· OSTI ID:137027

Avnir, D; Steinberger, E H ^[1]; Ludlow, D K ^[2]

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1. Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem (Israel)
2. Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

In view of the predictions that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will continue to destroy stratospheric ozone for at least a century, the authors propose that active measures should be taken to replenish it. In particular, they propose to photolyze oxygen to ozone in the lower stratosphere by upgrading the solar light at these altitudes to short UV photons, using solar-powered irradiation sources tethered to fixed-altitude balloons. It is estimated that the electricity produced by a 1 m{sup 2} solar collector is sufficient to generate ozone at an overall yield of 3%, which in turn, is sufficient to elevate continuously the ozone level by 5% in an atmospheric column of cross-sectional area of 10,000 m{sup 2}. The authors show that it may be within reach to produce large amounts of ozone in the stratosphere by employing that conceptual approach. For instance, they provide an estimate that a total area of solar collectors of only set feral tens by several tens of kilometers should be sufficient to produce ozone at a rate that allows at least partial protection of the populated northern or southern afflicted latitudes. A possible configuration is that of a necklace of solar-powered lamps tethered to fixed-altitude balloons around afflicted latitudes that will illuminate the stratosphere stroboscopically. The authors propose to test this approach experimentally by building a stratospheric ozone station.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 137027
• Journal Information: Energy Sources, Journal Name: Energy Sources Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 17; ISSN 0090-8312; ISSN EGYSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
40 CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FLIGHT TESTING
OXYGEN
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOLYSIS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SYNTHESIS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION