Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere
The current understanding of stratospheric chemistry is reviewed with particular attention to the influence of human activity. Models are in good agreement with measurements for a variety of species in the mid-latitude stratosphere, with the possible exception of ozone (O 3 ) at high altitude. Rates...
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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
1989
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 |
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craaas:10.1126/science.243.4892.763 2024-06-23T07:47:14+00:00 Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere McElroy, Michael B. Salawitch, Ross J. 1989 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 en eng American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science volume 243, issue 4892, page 763-770 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 journal-article 1989 craaas https://doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 2024-05-24T12:53:54Z The current understanding of stratospheric chemistry is reviewed with particular attention to the influence of human activity. Models are in good agreement with measurements for a variety of species in the mid-latitude stratosphere, with the possible exception of ozone (O 3 ) at high altitude. Rates calculated for loss of O 3 exceed rates for production by about 40 percent at 40 kilometers, indicating a possible but as yet unidentified source of high-altitude O 3 . The rapid loss of O 3 beginning in the mid-1970s at low altitudes over Antarctica in the spring is due primarily to catalytic cycles involving halogen radicals. Reactions on surfaces of polar stratospheric clouds play an important role in regulating the abundance of these radicals. Similar effects could occur in northern polar regions and in cold regions of the tropics. It is argued that the Antarctic phenomenon is likely to persist: prompt drastic reduction in the emission of industrial halocarbons is required if the damage to stratospheric O 3 is to be reversed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Antarctic The Antarctic Science 243 4892 763 770 |
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Open Polar |
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AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) |
op_collection_id |
craaas |
language |
English |
description |
The current understanding of stratospheric chemistry is reviewed with particular attention to the influence of human activity. Models are in good agreement with measurements for a variety of species in the mid-latitude stratosphere, with the possible exception of ozone (O 3 ) at high altitude. Rates calculated for loss of O 3 exceed rates for production by about 40 percent at 40 kilometers, indicating a possible but as yet unidentified source of high-altitude O 3 . The rapid loss of O 3 beginning in the mid-1970s at low altitudes over Antarctica in the spring is due primarily to catalytic cycles involving halogen radicals. Reactions on surfaces of polar stratospheric clouds play an important role in regulating the abundance of these radicals. Similar effects could occur in northern polar regions and in cold regions of the tropics. It is argued that the Antarctic phenomenon is likely to persist: prompt drastic reduction in the emission of industrial halocarbons is required if the damage to stratospheric O 3 is to be reversed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
McElroy, Michael B. Salawitch, Ross J. |
spellingShingle |
McElroy, Michael B. Salawitch, Ross J. Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
author_facet |
McElroy, Michael B. Salawitch, Ross J. |
author_sort |
McElroy, Michael B. |
title |
Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
title_short |
Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
title_full |
Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
title_fullStr |
Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
title_full_unstemmed |
Changing Composition of the Global Stratosphere |
title_sort |
changing composition of the global stratosphere |
publisher |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
publishDate |
1989 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
op_source |
Science volume 243, issue 4892, page 763-770 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4892.763 |
container_title |
Science |
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243 |
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4892 |
container_start_page |
763 |
op_container_end_page |
770 |
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1802651328921468928 |