Stratospheric Pollution
Martyn P. Chipperfield
Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science,
School of Earth and Environment, University of
Leeds, Leeds, UK
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Stratospheric Ozone
Ozone Depletion
Ozone Recovery and Chemistry–Climate
Interactions
Future Directions
Bibliography
Glossary
Chemical transport model Three-dimensional
model of atmospheric chemistry used to simulate past and present changes.
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Class of chemical
compound containing chlorine, fluorine, and
carbon.
Coupled chemistry-climate model (CCM) Version of three-dimensional atmospheric climate
model with detailed interactive chemistry.
Used to simulate past ozone changes and to
predict the future ozone layer.
Montreal protocol International agreement to
limit and phase out production and emission
of chlorine- and bromine-containing ozonedepleting substances.
Ozone Molecule containing three oxygen atoms
(O 3 ).
Ozone-depleting substance (ODS) General
term for compounds which, when broken
down in the atmosphere, can release chemical
species that destroy ozone.
Ozone hole Popular name given to the large
seasonal reduction in column ozone over Antarctica, which currently occurs from August to
October each year.
Stratosphere Region of atmosphere from about
10–18 km to 50 km altitude. Contains 90% of
atmospheric ozone in the ozone layer.
Very short-lived species (VSLS) Source gas
with an atmospheric lifetime less than about
6 months.
Definition of the Subject
The stratosphere is the region of the atmosphere
between 8–18 km and 50 km altitude. This region
contains 90% of the ozone (O 3 ) in the atmosphere
in the so-called ozone layer. Ozone is continually
produced naturally in the stratosphere by sunlight
and molecular oxygen. It is destroyed by a variety
of chemical species that are present in the atmosphere both naturally and through human activities. The ozone layer prevents harmful short
wavelength ultraviolet radiation from reaching
the Earth’s surface and also plays an important
role in the atmospheric climate balance. Over the
past few decades, increases in atmospheric chlorine and bromine have occurred through human
activities (e.g., use of chlorofluorocarbons or
CFCs), and this has led to ozone depletion. The
most dramatic reduction in the ozone layer has
occurred over the Antarctic in springtime where
about 70% of the column ozone is removed,
corresponding to complete loss in the lower stratosphere. Smaller depletion has been observed in the
Arctic winter and spring, and in the middle latitudes. An international agreement (The Montreal
Protocol and Amendments) has now acted to ban
the production and emission of CFCs and other
major ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). Over
the timescale of next 50 years or so the ozone layer
should recover, though the speed and extent of this
recovery will depend on stratospheric climate
change.
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_560
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media LLC, 2012
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_560
373
Martyn P. Chipperfield
Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science,
School of Earth and Environment, University of
Leeds, Leeds, UK
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Stratospheric Ozone
Ozone Depletion
Ozone Recovery and Chemistry–Climate
Interactions
Future Directions
Bibliography
Glossary
Chemical transport model Three-dimensional
model of atmospheric chemistry used to simulate past and present changes.
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Class of chemical
compound containing chlorine, fluorine, and
carbon.
Coupled chemistry-climate model (CCM) Version of three-dimensional atmospheric climate
model with detailed interactive chemistry.
Used to simulate past ozone changes and to
predict the future ozone layer.
Montreal protocol International agreement to
limit and phase out production and emission
of chlorine- and bromine-containing ozonedepleting substances.
Ozone Molecule containing three oxygen atoms
(O 3 ).
Ozone-depleting substance (ODS) General
term for compounds which, when broken
down in the atmosphere, can release chemical
species that destroy ozone.
Ozone hole Popular name given to the large
seasonal reduction in column ozone over Antarctica, which currently occurs from August to
October each year.
Stratosphere Region of atmosphere from about
10–18 km to 50 km altitude. Contains 90% of
atmospheric ozone in the ozone layer.
Very short-lived species (VSLS) Source gas
with an atmospheric lifetime less than about
6 months.
Definition of the Subject
The stratosphere is the region of the atmosphere
between 8–18 km and 50 km altitude. This region
contains 90% of the ozone (O 3 ) in the atmosphere
in the so-called ozone layer. Ozone is continually
produced naturally in the stratosphere by sunlight
and molecular oxygen. It is destroyed by a variety
of chemical species that are present in the atmosphere both naturally and through human activities. The ozone layer prevents harmful short
wavelength ultraviolet radiation from reaching
the Earth’s surface and also plays an important
role in the atmospheric climate balance. Over the
past few decades, increases in atmospheric chlorine and bromine have occurred through human
activities (e.g., use of chlorofluorocarbons or
CFCs), and this has led to ozone depletion. The
most dramatic reduction in the ozone layer has
occurred over the Antarctic in springtime where
about 70% of the column ozone is removed,
corresponding to complete loss in the lower stratosphere. Smaller depletion has been observed in the
Arctic winter and spring, and in the middle latitudes. An international agreement (The Montreal
Protocol and Amendments) has now acted to ban
the production and emission of CFCs and other
major ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). Over
the timescale of next 50 years or so the ozone layer
should recover, though the speed and extent of this
recovery will depend on stratospheric climate
change.
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_560
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media LLC, 2012
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_560
373