The evolution of ClO and NO along air parcel trajectories

Journal Article · Fri Nov 19 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL01690· OSTI ID:5108344

Schoeberl, M R; Douglass, A R; Stolarski, R S; Newman, P A; Lait, L R; Toohey, D; Avallone, L; Anderson, J G; Brune, W; Fahey, D W; Kelly, K

Back trajectory analysis of Arctic and Antarctic aircraft data reveals that high ClO concentrations are associated with predicted polar stratospheric cloud (PSCs) encounters. The ClO concentrations within the Arctic and Antarctic polar vortices vary widely but appear to be inversely related to parcel solar exposure since the last PSC interaction. These results imply that production of NO[sub x] from HNO[sub 3] photolysis and reaction with OH is the mechanism for the loss of chlorine radicals through the reformation of chlorine nitrate. Highly denitrified air parcels show no change in ClO with solar exposure. The recovery process is quantitatively duplicated using a model of chemistry along trajectories. Although PSC processing is the primary mechanism for producing elevated ClO amounts, back trajectories apparently unperturbed by PSC's also show slightly elevated ClO levels in 1992 compared to Arctic 1989 and Antarctic 1987 measurements presumably due to the presence of Pinatubo aerosol. 23 refs., 4 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5108344
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 20:22; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLORINE OXIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITROGEN OXIDES
CLOUDS
POLAR REGIONS
STRATOSPHERE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CRYOSPHERE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)