Quantifying denitrification and its effect on ozone recovery
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite observations indicate that extensive denitrification without significant dehydration currently occurs only in the Antarctic during mid to late June. The fact that denitrification occurs in a relatively warm month in the Antarctic raises concern about the likelihood of its occurrence and associated effects on ozone recovery in a colder and possibly more humid future Arctic lower stratosphere. Polar stratospheric cloud lifetimes required for Arctic denitrification to occur in the future are presented and contrasted against the current Antarctic cloud lifetimes. Model calculations show that widespread severe denitrification could enhance future Arctic ozone loss by up to 30%.
Tabazadeh
A
NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 183-701, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA. Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc., 840 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139-3794, USA. Departme.
Santee
ML
Danilin
MY
Pumphrey
HC
Newman
PA
Hamill
PJ
Mergenthaler
JL