Pollution of the stratosphere. [Role of supersonic transport]

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pc.26.100175.001531· OSTI ID:7187612

Johnston, H S

One vulnerable area of the earth is the stratosphere, where the air is thin and stable against vertical mixing by virtue of its temperature inversion. The Study of Critical Environmental Problems (SCEP) considered the role of supersonic transports (SST) and estimated the increase of stratospheric water, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NO/sub x/), and particulates as a result of regular operation of 500 SSTs. The possible role of artificially injected water in reducing stratospheric ozone was emphasized. The effect of nitrogen oxides on ozone was also considered. The Congress requested that the Department of Transportation (DOT) set up a program of interdisciplinary research and report their findings by the end of 1974. The Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) was set up in the fall of 1971. It has held four general conferences and the proceedings are published for three of them. It also prepared six monographs to be published in the summer of 1975. A condensed DOT Report of Findings was issued in January 1975. The findings of CIAP were reviewed by the Climatic Impact Committee of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. This committee worked in parallel with CIAP for two years, conducted a summer study of the findings in 1974, and issued an independent report in April 1975. The CIAP embraced more than 50 projects, coordinated similar efforts in other agencies and other countries, and involved efforts of approximately 1000 scientists. During 1974, there was a flood of new results. This review includes the highlights of these results concerning stratospheric composition and the reduction of ozone by NO/sub x/. (CH)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 7187612
• Journal Information: Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 26; ISSN ARPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
AIR TRANSPORT
AIRCRAFT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
STRATOSPHERE
SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT
USA
WATER