Nitrogen oxides controversy

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6580602

Johnston, H S

With ten-year hindsight, the scientific considerations that entered discussions of possible changes of stratospheric ozone by large fleets of US-type SSTs are seen to be logical and constructive. Since 1961, it has been realized that the photochemistry of the natural ozone balance cannot be explained in terms of pure oxygen species (O/sub x/ = O, O/sub 2/, O/sub 3/), but that something else in the stratosphere destroys most of the ozone formed at and below the altitude of its maximum mixing ratio. When (1965-70) this natural ozone destruction was thought to be caused by a few ppM of water, it was pointed out that the predicted 10% increase in stratospheric water by SSts was a matter of concern. When (1970-71) it was found that a few ppB of nitrogen oxides (NO/sub x/ = NO, NO/sub 2/) probably are the major cause of natural ozone destruction, then it was pointed out that the predicted doubling of stratospheric NO/sub x/ by SSTs was a matter of concern. These were valid statements of the need for an environmental impact assessment. This area of science was primitive in 1970, but by 1981 it has a large body of laboratory and atmospheric measurements and elaborate mathematical models.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6580602
• Report Number(s): LBL-12251; CONF-810130-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR TRANSPORT
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STRATOSPHERE
SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT