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Enhanced production of stratospheric OH from methane oxidation at elevated reactive chlorine levels in northern midlatitudes

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Abstract

Examination of odd-hydrogen production and loss processes in the lower stratosphere reveals that the large abundances of midlatitude ClO recently measured requires a reassessment of the OH yield from methane oxidation due to a more rapid initiation of the methane oxidation sequence by atomic chlorine. Using a steady state calculation for OH and an iterative procedure for evaluating odd-hydrogen production from the methane oxidation sequence, we demonstrate that both OH and reactive chlorine are amplified below 25 km. The amplified values of OH and ClO are found to be consistent with recent measurements of ClO concentrations and of OH column abundances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NOAA Fritz Peak Observatory, PO Box 59, 80474, Rollinsville, CO, USA

    Elizabeth B. Burnett

  2. Florida Atlantic University, 33431-0991, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Elizabeth B. Burnett

  3. Department of Physics, Florida Atlantic University, 33431-0991, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Clyde R. Burnett

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  1. Elizabeth B. Burnett
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Burnett, E.B., Burnett, C.R. Enhanced production of stratospheric OH from methane oxidation at elevated reactive chlorine levels in northern midlatitudes. J Atmos Chem 21, 13–41 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00712436

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00712436

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