3.1
Links between boundary layer ozone depletion events and atmospheric dynamics in the high Arctic
Court Strong, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; and J. D. Fuentes, R. E. Davis, and J. W. Bottenheim
During spring 2000, a major ozone depletion episode was observed in the boundary layer at Alert, Nunavut, Canada. The ozone in the atmospheric layer from the surface to 1500 m was completely removed. Consensus exists that ozone is rapidly destroyed through reactions involving bromine, which is abundantly produced in the Arctic Ocean. The ozone event discussed in this presentation lasted more than 9 days and was associated with an abrupt transition to an air mass that emanated from the Arctic Ocean. After the onset of the ozone depletion episode, the ozone-depleted air mass remained stagnant over the Alert region. In this study, thermodynamic and atmospheric dynamic characteristics of the lower troposphere are examined before, during and after the ozone depletion episode. This analysis allows us to establish the links between the atmospheric dynamic and thermodynamic attributes of ozone depletion episodes, chemically active air mass source regions, and locally measured chemistry. Evidence is also provided to show that the principal mechanism to replenish the atmospheric boundary layer with ozone is vertical turbulent transport of ozone from aloft down to the lower atmosphere. This transport mechanism is supported by strong wind shear regimes observed aloft.
Session 3, Boundary layer nighttime chemical processes
Monday, 14 January 2002, 1:30 PM-2:30 PM
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