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Reductions in ozone at high concentrations of stratospheric halogens

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Abstract

An increase in the concentration of inorganic chlorine to levels comparable to that of oxidized reactive nitrogen could cause a significant change in the chemistry of the lower stratosphere leading to a reduction potentially larger than 15% in the column density of ozone. This could occur, for example by the middle of the next century, if emissions of man-made chlorocarbons were to grow at a rate of 3% per year. Ozone could be further depressed by release of industrial bromocarbon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Earth and Planetary Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA

    Michael J. Prather, Michael B. McElroy & Steven C. Wofsy

Authors
  1. Michael J. Prather
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  2. Michael B. McElroy
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  3. Steven C. Wofsy
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Prather, M., McElroy, M. & Wofsy, S. Reductions in ozone at high concentrations of stratospheric halogens. Nature 312, 227–231 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/312227a0

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