Stratospheric ozone: an introduction to its study

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Rev. Geophys. Space Phys., v. 13, no. 5, pp. 593-636

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/RG013i005p00593· OSTI ID:4036274

Nicolet, M

An analysis is made of the various reactions in which ozone and atomic oxygen are involved in the stratosphere. At the present time, hydrogen, nitrogen, and chlorine compounds in the ranges parts per million, parts per billion, and parts per trillion may have significant chemical effects. In the upper stratosphere, above the ozone peak, where there is no strong departure from photochemical equilibrium conditions, the action of hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals of nitrogen dioxide and chlorine monoxide on atomic oxygen and of atomic chlorine on ozone can be introduced. A precise determination of their exact effects requires knowledge of the vertical distribution of the H$sub 2$O, CH$sub 4$, and H$sub 2$ dissociation by reaction of these molecules with electronically excited oxygen atom O($sup 1$D); the ratio of the OH and HO$sub 2$ concentrations and their absolute values, which depend on insufficiently known rate coefficients; the various origins of nitric oxide production, with their vertical distributions related to latitude and season; and the various sources giving different chlorine compounds that may be dissociated in the stratosphere. In the lower stratosphere, below the ozone peak, there is no important photochemical production of O$sub 3$, but there exist various possibilities of transport. The predictability of the action of chemical reactions depends strongly on important interactions between OH and HO$sub 2$ radicals with CO and NO, respectively, which affect the ratio n(OH)/n(HO$sub 2$) at the tropopause level; between OH and NO$sub 2$, which lead to the formation of nitric acid with its downward transport toward the troposphere; between NO and HO$sub 2$, which lead to NO$sub 2$ and its subsequent photodissociation; between ClO and NO, which also lead to NO$sub 2$ and become more important than the reaction of ClO with O; and between Cl and various molecules, such as CH$sub 4$ and H$sub 2$, which lead to HCl with its downward transportation toward the troposphere. (auth)

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• NSA Number: NSA-33-024228
• OSTI ID: 4036274
• Journal Information: Rev. Geophys. Space Phys., v. 13, no. 5, pp. 593-636, Journal Name: Rev. Geophys. Space Phys., v. 13, no. 5, pp. 593-636; ISSN RGPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
LATITUDE EFFECT
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