Springtime measurements of ozone-related compounds in the antarctic stratosphere

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Antarctic Journal of the United States; (USA)

OSTI ID:6971549

Murcray, D G ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Denver, CO (USA)

The springtime decrease of atmospheric ozone over Antarctica has been observed over Halley Bay and over Syowa and South Pole Stations and has been recorded by satellites over a wide area of the continent. Current photochemical models did not predict these observations nor do the models explain the decrease. Several explanations for the decrease have been advanced; each explanation assumes that concentrations of other compounds in the atmosphere would change along with the concentration of ozone. However, verification of these hypotheses requires atmospheric chemical data obtained during the antarctic spring. In support of the National Ozone Expedition II, the author will obtain infrared solar spectra from ground-based stations at McMurdo and South Pole. These spectra, which contain thousands of absorption lines produced by compounds present in the atmosphere, can provide information about atmospheric chemistry at the time that the measurements were made. Because they respond to molecules anywhere along the optical path, this technique yields information on the total column density of compounds present in the stratosphere. At McMurdo Station from late August until mid October, the author will take measurements near Arrival Heights and later will continue his observations at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The measurements will be analyzed for total column density of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, nitrogen dioxide, chlorofluorocarbon gases F-11 and F-12, ozone, methane, and nitrous oxide. With these data, he hopes to follow the change in total column density for these compounds from late winter through early spring.

• OSTI ID: 6971549
• Journal Information: Antarctic Journal of the United States; (USA), Journal Name: Antarctic Journal of the United States; (USA) Vol. 22:3; ISSN 0003-5335; ISSN AJUSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
ALKANES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METHANE
MONITORING
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLAR REGIONS
RADIATIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SPECTRA
STELLAR RADIATION
STRATOSPHERE
VARIATIONS