Impact of heterogeneous chemistry on model predictions of ozone changes

Journal Article · Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD02021· OSTI ID:7065842

Granier, C; Brasseur, G ^[1]

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1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)

A two-dimensional chemical/transport model of the middle atmosphere is used to assess the importance of chemical heterogeneous processes in the polar regions (on polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs)) and at other latitudes (on sulfate aerosols). When conversion on type I and type II PSCs of N[sub 2]O[sub 5] into HNO[sub 3] and of CIONO[sub 2] into reactive forms of chlorine is taken into account, enhanced CIO concentrations lead to the formation of a springtime ozone hole over the Antarctic continent; no such major reduction in the ozone column is found in the Arctic region. When conversion of nitrogen and chlorine compounds is assumed to occur on sulfate particles in the lower stratosphere, significant perturbations in the chemistry are also found. For background aerosol conditions, the concentration of nitric acid is enhanced and agrees with observed values, while that of nitrogen oxides is reduced and agrees less than if heterogeneous processes are ignored in the calculations. The concentration of the OH radical is significantly increased. Ozone number density appears to become larger between 16 and 30 km but smaller below 16 km, especially at high latitudes. The ozone column is only slightly modified, except at high latitudes where it is substantially reduced if the CIONO[sub 2] conversion into reactive chlorine is considered. After a large volcanic eruption these changes are further exacerbated. The ozone budget in the lower stratrosphere becomes less affected by nitrogen oxides but is largely controlled by the CIO[sub x] and HO[sub x] chemistries. A substantial decrease in the ozone column is predicted as a result of the Pinatubo volcanic eruption, mostly in winter at middle and high latitudes. 62 refs., 18 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7065842
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 97:D16; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OZONE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
VOLCANIC GASES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
CHLORINE
CLIMATE MODELS
ERUPTION
LEAD
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN
OXIDES
POLAR REGIONS
STRATOSPHERE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HALOGENS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)