Airborne measurements of organic bromine compounds in the Pacific tropical tropopause layer.
Very short-lived brominated substances (VSLBr) are an important source of stratospheric bromine, an effective ozone destruction catalyst. However, the accurate estimation of the organic and inorganic partitioning of bromine and the input to the stratosphere remains uncertain. Here, we report near-tropopause measurements of organic brominated substances found over the tropical Pacific during the NASA Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment campaigns. We combine aircraft observations and a chemistry-climate model to quantify the total bromine loading injected to the stratosphere. Surprisingly, despite differences in vertical transport between the Eastern and Western Pacific, VSLBr (organic + inorganic) contribute approximately similar amounts of bromine [∼6 (4-9) parts per trillion] [corrected] to the stratospheric input at the tropical tropopause. These levels of bromine cause substantial ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere, and any increases in future abundances (e.g., as a result of aquaculture) will lead to larger depletions.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149; mnavarro@rsmas.miami.edu.
Maria A
MA
Navarro
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149;
Elliot L
EL
Atlas
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Group, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
Alfonso
A
Saiz-Lopez
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Group, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
Xavier
X
Rodriguez-Lloveras
Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307;
Douglas E
DE
Kinnison
Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307;
Jean-Francois
JF
Lamarque
Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307;
Simone
S
Tilmes
Centre for Atmospheric Science, Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom; Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom;
Michal
M
Filus
Centre for Atmospheric Science, Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom; Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom;
Neil R P
NR
Harris
Met Office, Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom;
Elena
E
Meneguz
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
Matthew J
MJ
Ashfold
Met Office, Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom;
Alistair J
AJ
Manning
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Group, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
Carlos A
CA
Cuevas
Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307;
Sue M
SM
Schauffler
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149;
Valeria
V
Donets
ATTREX; bromine; tropopause