Stratospheric chlorine injection by volcanic eruptions: HCl scavenging and implications for ozone

Journal Article · Fri May 21 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.260.5111.1082· OSTI ID:7368789

Tabazadeh, A; Turco, R P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

Because the output of volatile chlorine during a major volcanic event can greatly exceed the annual anthropogenic emissions of chlorine to the atmosphere, the fate of volcanic chlorine must be known. Although numerous observations have shown that volcanoes do not significantly contribute to the stratospheric chlorine burden, no quantitative explanation has been published. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) scavenging processes during the early phases of a volcanic eruption are discussed. A plume dynamics and thermodynamics model is used to show that HCl removal in condensed supercooled water can reduce HCl vapor concentrations by up to four orders of magnitude, preventing substantial stratospheric chlorine injection. 39 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 7368789
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 260:5111; ISSN 0036-8075; ISSN SCIEAS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINE
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
ERUPTION
FLUIDS
GASES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INJECTION
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTAKE
NONMETALS
OZONE
SCAVENGING
STRATOSPHERE
VOLCANIC GASES
VOLCANOES