Stratospheric ozone: fragile shield

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7324247

Hoffert, M I; Stewart, R W

The history of the ozone problem and studies on the stratospheric ozone shield are reviewed. In 1930 Sidney Chapman explained the conversion of oxygen to O/sub 3/ in terms of a five step system of photolytic and collisional reactions. In 1970 the Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) was organized to deal with the problem of catalytic depletion of O/sub 3/ by nitrogen oxides raised during debate over the United States SST. The various atmospheric models used in CIAP to compute the natural and SST-perturbed stratosphere are reviewed. The models differ in significant detail within a given dimensional class in chemistry, atmospheric transport and diffusion, and background levels of NO/sub x/. The Climatic Impact Committee of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering calculate present O/sub 3/ depletion at 17 and 20 km as a function of NO/sub x/ emission rates from an ID model for various types and numbers of aircraft. Les Comite D Etudes de Consequences des Vols Stratospheriques (COVOS) presented new measurements of stratospheric nitric acid that suggest the CIAP models have overestimated O/sub 3/ depletion from the NO/sub x/ catalytic cycle.

• OSTI ID: 7324247
• Journal Information: Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States), Journal Name: Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States); ISSN ASAEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR TRANSPORT
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
DIFFUSION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
STRATOSPHERE
SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT