Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction

Farman, J.C.; Gardiner, B.G.; Shanklin, Jonathan D.. 1985 Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction. Nature, 315 (6016). 207-210. 10.1038/315207a0

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/315207a0

Abstract/Summary

Recent attempts1,2 to consolidate assessments of the effect of human activities on stratospheric ozone (O3) using one-dimensional models for 30° N have suggested that perturbations of total O3 will remain small for at least the next decade. Results from such models are often accepted by default as global estimates3. The inadequacy of this approach is here made evident by observations that the spring values of total O3 in Antarctica have now fallen considerably. The circulation in the lower stratosphere is apparently unchanged, and possible chemical causes must be considered. We suggest that the very low temperatures which prevail from midwinter until several weeks after the spring equinox make the Antarctic stratosphere uniquely sensitive to growth of inorganic chlorine, ClX, primarily by the effect of this growth on the NO2/NO ratio. This, with the height distribution of UV irradiation peculiar to the polar stratosphere, could account for the O3 losses observed.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/315207a0
ISSN:	0028-0836
Date made live:	15 May 2019 08:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523353

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/315207a0

ISSN:

0028-0836

Date made live:

15 May 2019 08:44 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523353