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Ozone minimum occurs in Antarctica in the springtimeObservations on the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole in the upper atmosphere are summarized, and the mechanism responsible for the ozone depletion in the spring is examined. It is shown that the sequence of events begins with the absorption of H2O, N2O5, HCl, and ClONO2 on the cloud ice particles in the winter and chemical reactions among absorbed chemicals which release (HNO3)s, Cl2, HOCl, and ClNO2. With the return of sunlight in the spring, the clouds evaporate, and the Cl2, HOCl, and ClONO2 molecules are destroyed by sunlight to form Cl atoms. These attack ozone, producing a reduction of ozone that accounts for the bulk of the ozone decrease observed by the ground-based ozone monitors. Data on the ozone concentration for the period between 1957 through 1987 indicate that the southern ozone hole has been intensifying since 1975 as the amount of man-made chlorine increases.
Document ID
19890060948
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Aikin, Arthur C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Earth in Space
Volume: 1
ISSN: 1040-3124
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
89A48319
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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