Chlorine isotope fractionation in the stratosphere.
Chlorinated organic compounds are important contributors to the anthropogenic enhancement of stratospheric ozone depletion. We report measurements of stratospheric isotope fractionation in such a compound. Stratospheric and tropospheric difluorodichloromethane (CF2Cl2) were found to have the largest relative 37Cl/35Cl isotope ratio difference ever measured for a natural compound. The increase of the relative isotope ratio difference with altitude was tightly correlated to the corresponding decrease in the CF2Cl2 mixing ratio. The observed relationship has a high potential to provide new insights into atmospheric chemistry and transport processes.
Laube
J C
JC
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR47TJ, UK. j.laube@uea.ac.uk
Kaiser
J
J
Sturges
W T
WT
Bönisch
H
H
Engel
A
A