Possible effect of the chlorine oxide dimer on transient ozone loss in rocket plumes. Technical report
Understanding transient, local ozone holes that may be produced by solid rocket boosters in the stratosphere puts special demands on models. One must consider the time scales as well as the rates for all of the pertinent chemical reactions involved in the destruction of ozone. In this report, we show that consideration of the existence of the chlorine oxide dimer, Cl2O2, and consideration of the necessary time scale for ozone loss are essential for prediction of a transient ozone hole. We argue that photolysis of this species is the major source of atomic chlorine in the plume at 20 km, and the ClO + 0 reaction is the major source at 30 km, although both processes play a role at the higher altitude. Inclusion of the chlorine oxide dimer ozone destruction cycle, which has not been considered in any of the full-scale models to date, predicts substantial ozone destruction on a scale of about 12-km diameter at 20-km altitude and the ClO cycle produces a 49-km-diameter hole at 30-km altitude. This analysis also suggests that the size of the hole at 20 km may be highly variable since it is sensitive to the variable ozone-to-methane ratio at that altitude. Ozone, Rocket launch, Stratospheric, Chlorine.
- Research Organization:
- Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (United States). Technology Operations
- OSTI ID:
- 7286998
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-278135/9/XAB; TR--94(4231)-1; CNN: F04701-93-C-0094
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Solid rocket exhaust in the stratosphere: Plume diffusion and chemical reactions
Computer model predictions of the local effects of large, solid-fuel rocket motors on stratospheric ozone. Technical report