Abstract
THE annual springtime depletion of Antarctic ozone1 has been shown to be due to the action of chlorine species, activated by reactions occurring on the surfaces of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs)1,2. Similar reactions may also take place on the surfaces of liquid sulphuric acid aerosols when the temperature is too high to permit the formation of PSCs3–4. Such processes may have been facilitated following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991, when unprecedented amounts of sulphur compounds were injected into the stratosphere5. Here we present observations of Antarctic chlorine dioxide abundances in the austral autumn and winter of 1991 (when aerosol concentrations were at background levels) and 1992 (greatly enhanced aerosol concentrations). We find that in 1992, unlike 1991, chlorine dioxide levels increased dramatically in the autumn, when PSCs were extremely unlikely to have been present. Model results suggest that this was mainly caused by the direct activation of chlorine nitrate on the aerosol surfaces. The effect of the Pinatubo aerosols probably contributed to the unprecedented depth and areal extent of Antarctic ozone depletion in 1992.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Solomon, S., Garcia, R. R., Rowland, F. S., & Wuebblos, D. J. Nature 321, 755–758 (1986).
World Meteorological Organization, Rep. No. 25 (1992).
Tolbert, M. A., Rossi, M. J. & Golden, D. M. Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 851 (1988).
Brasseur, G., Granier, C. & Walters, S. Nature 348, 626 (1990).
Bluth, G. J. et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 19, 151–154 (1992).
Hofmann, D. J. et al. Nature 359, 283 (1992).
Solomon, S., Sanders, R. W. & Miller, H. L. Jr J. geophys. Res., 95, 13807 (1990).
Solomon, S., Mount, G. H., Sanders, R. W. & Schmeltekopf, A. L. J. geophys. Res., 92, 8329 (1987).
Sanders, R. W. et al. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
Solomon, S., Mount, G. H., Sanders, R. W., Jakoubek, R. O. & Schmeltekopf, A. L. Science 242, 550–555 (1988).
Arnold, F., Petzoldt, K. & Reimer, E. Geophys. Res. Lett. 19, 677–680 (1992).
Dye, J. E. et al. J. geophys. Res. 97, 8015–8034 (1992).
Collins, R. L., Bowman, K. P. & Gardner, C. S. J. geophys. Res. 98, 1001–1010 (1993).
McCormick, M. P., Trepte, C. R. & Pitts, M. C. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11241–11252 (1989).
Hanson, D. R. & Ravishankara, A. R. J. geophys. Res. 96, 5081–5090 (1991).
Turco, R. P. & Hamill, P. Ber. Bunsenges phys. Chem. 96, 323–334 (1992).
Hofmann, D. J. & Solomon, S. J. geophys. Res. 94, 5029 (1989).
Jones, R. L. et al. Geophys. Res. 94, 11529 (1989).
Rattigan, O., Lutman, E. R., Jones, R. L. & Cox, R. A. Ber. Bunsenges phys. Chem. 96, 399–404 (1992).
Brune, W. H., Anderson, J. G. & Chan, K. R. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16639 (1989).
Solomon, S., Garcia, R. R. & Stordal, F. J. geophys. Res. 90, 12981–12989 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Solomon, S., Sanders, R., Garcia, R. et al. Increased chlorine dioxide over Antarctica caused by volcanic aerosols from Mount Pinatubo. Nature 363, 245–248 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/363245a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/363245a0
This article is cited by
-
Emergence of ozone recovery evidenced by reduction in the occurrence of Antarctic ozone loss saturation
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (2018)
-
Prebiotic synthesis of phosphoenol pyruvate by α-phosphorylation-controlled triose glycolysis
Nature Chemistry (2017)
-
The signs of Antarctic ozone hole recovery
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Exchange of carbonyl sulfide (COS) between wheat soil and atmosphere
Science in China Series B: Chemistry (2001)
-
The diel cycle of carbonyl sulfide in marine surface waters: Field study results and a simple model
Aquatic Geochemistry (1997)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.