Gas-chromatographic measurements of atmospheric CF2Cl2, CFCl3 and N2O in Antarctica

• Main Authors: Hirota, H., Makino, Y., Chubachi, S., Muramatsu, H., Shiobara, M.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1985
• Subjects: 46; Antarctic; Syowa Station; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19860018353

Stratospheric ozone is produced photochemically and destroyed by reactions with such minor constituents as O, NOx, HOx, and ClOx. Chlorofluoromethanes (CF2Cl2 and CFCl3) and dinitrogen oxide (NwO) are considered as major sources of the stratospheric ClOx and NOx, respectively. It is well known that CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 are released only by man's activities, and are being accumulated in the troposphere. In order to assess the influence of these compounds on the natural ozone balance these gases have been measured over Japan since 1978. Measurements of Antarctic air samples are also indispensable to understanding the global distributions of these gases, because most CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 have been released in the Northern Hemisphere. Antarctic air samples were obtained by the 23rd, 24th and 25th Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions, and analyzed by a gas-chromatographic method using an electron capture detector. Three experimental results were obtained: (1) latitudinal distribution of these gases from Tokyo to Syowa Station (69.0 deg S, 39.6 deg E), (2) time trends at Syowa Station, and (3) vertical distributions over Syowa Station. Results are reported.