Ozone depletion over the polar caps caused by solar protons

Journal Article · Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL02925· OSTI ID:6918400

Stephenson, J A.E.; Scourfield, M W.J. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Natal, Durban (South Africa)

Energetic solar protons are a natural source of ozone depletion due to nitric oxides they produce in the earth's atmosphere. In March 1989, following a period of intense solar activity, the TOMS instrument aboard the Nimbus 7 satellite recorded very similar ozone losses over both polar caps for areas extending from 90[degrees] to 70[degrees]. Ozone depletions of 7.4 [times] 10[sup 9] kg for the south polar cap and 8.0 [times] 10[sup 9] kg for the north polar cap indicate the degree of symmetry over the polar caps. 11 refs., 6 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6918400
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 19:24; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
OZONE
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
SOLAR PROTONS
DISSOCIATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRONS
EMISSION
IONIZATION
LOSSES
NIMBUS SATELLITES
NITRIC OXIDE
OZONE LAYER
POLAR REGIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
BARYONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
LAYERS
LEPTONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUCLEONS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
661320 - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)