Sources of stratospheric gaseous chlorine

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Reviews of Geophysics (1985)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/RG013i005p00650· OSTI ID:4049216

Ryan, J. A.; Mukherjee, N. R.

Interest in atmospheric gaseous chlorine (GCl) has been generated by its increasing anthropogenic introduction coupled with its reactivity with ozone. Present and anticipated future sources of GCl are described and an estimate of their stratospheric source strength is derived. The stratospheric sources are transport of tropospheric GCl across the tropopause, direct stratospheric introduction by major volcanic eruptions, and anthropogenic emissions in the stratosphere. The mean source strengths are estimated to be, respectively, 4 x 10 ¹⁰, 1 x 10 ¹¹, and 5 x 10 ⁹ g GCl yr ^-1, the last figure representing a projection of anthropogenic emissions to include 50 space shuttle flights per year. Whereas the first source introduces GCl only at the base of the stratosphere, the other two can supply GCl directly to altitudes up to approximately 50 km. The dominant, volcanic, source is highly variable, it being estimated that as much as 3 x 10 ¹³ g GCl can enter the stratosphere from a single eruption. Although major volcanic eruptions are indicated to be the dominant source, few ''hard'' data are currently available.

• Research Organization: McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., Huntington Beach, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-024230
• OSTI ID: 4049216
• Journal Information: Reviews of Geophysics (1985), Journal Name: Reviews of Geophysics (1985) Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 13; ISSN REGEEP; ISSN 8755-1209
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*STRATOSPHERE-- CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
640201* --Physics Research--Atmospheric Physics--Auroral & Ionospheric Phenomena
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINE
EMISSION
GASES
N58100* --Physics (Atmospheric)--Auroral & Ionospheric Phenomena
OZONE
TROPOSPHERE
VOLCANOES