Effect of nuclear explosions on stratospheric nitric oxide and ozone

Journal Article · Thu Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 27, pp. 6107-6135

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC078i027p06107· OSTI ID:4346847

Johnston, H; Whitten, G; Birks, J

This article reviews the derivation by Foley and Ruderman of the injection of nitric oxide into the stratosphere by nuclear bomb tests and compares it with similar studies. Upper and lower limits of this pollutant are estimated by us and compared with the amount and distribution of nitric oxide in the stratosphere possible from supersonic transports. The effect on ozone of any artificial nitric oxide in the stratosphere depends on the distribution as well as the quantity. The distribution of /sup 90/Sr in the stratosphere was measured by balloons and planes after the 1961-1962 nuclear tests, and there is a linear relation (with known proportionality constants) between bomb-produced /sup 90/Sr and bomb-produced nitric oxide. In this way the actual distribution (within the sixfold range of uncertainty that connects NO formation to bomb yield) of NO in the stratosphere is presented. Most of this bombproduced NO lay low in the stratosphere and far to the north so that the maximum expectei ozone reduction would be matter of a few percent. The total ozone data for the world for 1960- 1970 inclusive have been examined in detail. There appears to be a real (about 5%) increase of ozone over the period 1963-1970; any other trends appear to be lost in fluctuations of the data and to be unobtainable because of the few ozone- observing stations before 1957. The increase in ozone during and thus bomb- produced NO; hence this increase of ozone may be due to the stratosphere's returning to normal after the nitric oxide injections by the nuclear bomb tests of 1952-1962. (auth)

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, University of California
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-022149
• OSTI ID: 4346847
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 27, pp. 6107-6135, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 27, pp. 6107-6135; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*NITROGEN OXIDES-- STRATOSPHERE
*NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS-- STRATOSPHERE
*OZONE-- STRATOSPHERE
*STRONTIUM 90-- STRATOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
N58200* --Physics (Atmospheric)--Effects of Nuclear Detonations