Role of the Stratospheric Polar Freezing Belt in Denitrification

Homogeneous freezing of nitric acid hydrate particles can produce a polar freezing belt in either hemisphere that can cause denitrification. Computed denitrification profiles for one Antarctic and two Arctic cold winters are presented. The vertical range over which denitrification occurs is normally...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Tabazadeh, A., Jensen, E. J., Toon, O. B., Drdla, K., Schoeberl, M. R.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2001
Subjects:
Arctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1057228
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1057228
Description
Summary:Homogeneous freezing of nitric acid hydrate particles can produce a polar freezing belt in either hemisphere that can cause denitrification. Computed denitrification profiles for one Antarctic and two Arctic cold winters are presented. The vertical range over which denitrification occurs is normally quite deep in the Antarctic but limited in the Arctic. A 4 kelvin decrease in the temperature of the Arctic stratosphere due to anthropogenic and/or natural effects can trigger the occurrence of widespread severe denitrification. Ozone loss is amplified in a denitrified stratosphere, so the effects of falling temperatures in promoting denitrification must be considered in assessment studies of ozone recovery trends.

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