Surface ozone depletion in Arctic spring sustained by bromine reactions on aerosols

Article Abstract:

An aqueous-phase chemical mechanism has been proposed for the natural production of the active, inorganic bromine that breaks down the surface ozone over the Arctic every spring. The mechanism changes the nonradical bromine species HBr, HOBr and BrNO3 into the ozone-destroying bromine radicals Br and BrO. The presence of high levels of sulphuric acid aerosols known to coincide with ozone depletion would enhance the ability of this mechanism to increase bromine concentrations.

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Ideas flow on Antarctic vortex

Article Abstract:

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) investigation focussed on the controversy regarding the speed of a material, flowing through the stratospheric vortex, in relation to ozone destruction over the Antarctic, during polar winter. The argument centers on the theory that air is effectively contained on seasonal time scales within the vortex, horizontally by the polar night jet stream and vertically by weak vertical velocities.

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Rapid degradation of atmospheric methyl bromide in soils

Article Abstract:

Bromine radicals released from methyl bromide (CH3Br) cause about 30% less depletion of stratospheric ozone than previously estimated, according to studies that show CH3Br is irreversibly reduced by soil bacteria. Research with different soil types at low mixing compositions revealed that the global annual soil intake of CH3Br is 42 plus or minus 32 Gg, which indicates the atmospheric lifetime of CH3Br to be 0.8 years.

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