. Earth Science News .
New Clues To Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer.
by Staff Writers
London UK (SPX) Jul 29, 2007
Large quantities of ozone-depleting chemicals have been discovered in the Antarctic atmosphere by researchers from the University of Leeds, the University of East Anglia, and the British Antarctic Survey. The team of atmospheric chemists carried out an 18-month study of the make-up of the lowest part of the earth's atmosphere on the Brunt Ice Shelf, about 20 km from the Weddell Sea. They found high concentrations of halogens - bromine and iodine oxides - which persist throughout the period when there is sunlight in Antarctica (August through May).

A big surprise to the science team was the large quantities of iodine oxide, since this chemical has not been detected in the Arctic.

The source of the halogens is natural - sea-salt in the case of bromine, and in the case of iodine, almost certainly bright orange algae that coat the underside of the sea ice around the continent.

These halogens cause a substantial depletion in ozone above the ice surface. This affects the so-called oxidising capacity of the atmosphere - its ability to "clean itself" by removing certain - often man-made - chemical compounds. The iodine oxides also form tiny particles (a few nanometres in size), which can grow to form ice clouds, with a consequent impact on the local climate.

Scientists now plan to carry out further research to assess what impact this may be having on the local environment. Very recent satellite observations by one of the team, Dr Alfonso Saiz-Lopez, have confirmed that iodine oxides are widespread throughout coastal Antarctica.

John Plane, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Leeds, says: "Halogens in the lowest part of the atmosphere have important impacts on ozone depletion, the ability of the atmosphere to remove potentially harmful compounds, and aerosol formation. All these atmospheric phenomena are linked to climate change. We still have to work out what the ramifications of this discovery are. These exciting results also show how important it is to keep exploring the atmosphere - there seems to be plenty more to find out."

Using high-tech measuring equipment, a beam of light was projected across the ice shelf and the spectrum of the reflected light analysed and chemical levels measured. The work was carried out in a new atmospheric observatory at Halley Station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey, and was supported by funding from the U.K.'s Natural Environment Research Council.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
University of Leeds
All about the Ozone Layer



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


NASA Airborne Expedition Chases Climate And Ozone Questions
Washington DC (SPX) Jun 28, 2007
NASA's Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling (TC4) field campaign will begin this summer in San Jose, Costa Rica, with an investigation into how chemical compounds in the air are transported vertically into the stratosphere and how that transport affects cloud formation and climate. The study will begin the week of July 16 with coordinated observations from satellites, high-flying NASA research aircraft, balloons and ground-based radar.







  • Floods Leave England Awash As Fires Burn Across Continental Europe
  • More Rains Forecast As England And Wales See Wettest Months Since 1766
  • More Flooding As England Battles Power Cuts And Water Shortages
  • Japan Quake Reveals Fragility Of Modern Industrial Systems

  • Climate Change Sucks Water From China's Two Longest Rivers
  • Climate Change, Energy Security Top APEC Agenda
  • Drip, Drip Of Global Warming Spells Change In Northern Russia
  • New NASA AIRS Data To Aid Weather And Climate Research

  • DigitalGlobe Expands Commercial Imagery Distribution Network In Australia And New Zealand
  • DMCii Wins ESA Satellite Imaging Contract
  • Campaign Prepares For Future Land-Surface Monitoring
  • Envisat Captures Breath Of Volcano

  • Arctic Crisis -- Part 2
  • EU Backs Cutting Duties On Chinese Light-Bulbs
  • Italy, Greece, Turkey Sign Gas Pipeline Deal
  • MIT Researchers Work Toward Spark-Free, Fuel-Efficient Engines

  • Treat HIV Babies Early
  • Reviving The HIV Vaccine Hunt
  • Revealing The Global Threat Of Bird Flu
  • China To Make Cuban Dengue Mosquito Killer

  • Discovery Provides Key Evidence Of Life's Beginnings
  • Scientists Excited By Indonesian-Caught Coelacanth
  • The Society Of Vertebrate Paleontology Speaks Out On The Creation Museum
  • Ice Age Survivors In Iceland

  • Smog To Accelerate Global Warming
  • Study Finds Contaminated Water Reaching Florida's Offshore Keys
  • Quebec's Famous Lakes Teeming With Blue-Green Algae
  • Renewable Energy Wrecks Environment

  • New Clue Into How Diet And Exercise Enhance Longevity
  • New Research Proves Single Origin Of Humans In Africa
  • Evidence Found For Novel Brain Cell Communication
  • Energy Efficiency Reason For Evolution Of Upright Walking

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement