Abstract
WATER vapour and reactive nitrogen species are removed from the polar stratosphere in both hemispheres in the winter and early spring, probably by the sedimentation of aerosol particles containing water and nitric acid, which co-condense at low stratospheric temperatures. In the Antarctic in 1987, intense dehydration invariably accompanied intense denitrification. However, from the marked difference between water vapour concentrations in the two hemispheres for similar concentrations of reactive nitrogen, we deduce that in the Antarctic some dehydration may have occurred without denitrification. In the Arctic in 1989, despite higher temperatures than in the Antarctic, intense denitrification occurred but without intense dehydration. These results provide important constraints for the uncertain microphysics controlling the growth and sedimentation of aerosol particles effecting the removal. We argue that the Arctic denitrification can be explained by the selective growth and sedimentation of aerosol particles rich in nitric acid. Because reactive nitrogen species moderate the destruction of ozone by chlorine-catalysed reactions, by sequestering chlorine in reservoir species such as ClONO2, the possibility of the removal of reactive nitrogen without dehydration should be allowed for in attempts to model ozone depletion in the Arctic. Indeed, denitrification along with elevated concentrations of reactive chlorine1 observed in 1989 indicate that the Arctic was chemically primed for ozone destruction without an extended period of temperatures below the frost point, as is characteristic of the Antarctic.
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
Brune, W. H., Toohey, D. W., Anderson, J. G. & Chan, K. R. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Tuck, A. F., Watson, R. T., Condon, E. P., Margitan, J. J. & Toon, O. B. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11687–11737 (1989).
Fahey, D. W. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11299–11315 (1989).
Kelly, K. K. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11317–11357 (1989).
Podolske, J. R., Loewenstein, M., Strahan, S. E. & Chan, K. R. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16767–16772 (1989).
Fahey, D. W. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16665–16681 (1989).
Proffitt, M. H. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11437–11448 (1989).
Kawa, S. R., Fahey, D. W., Anderson, L. C., Loewenstein, M. & Chan, K. R. Geophys. Res. Lett. (in the press).
Fahey, D. W. et al. Nature (submitted).
Jones, R. L. et al. Q. Jl R. met. Soc. 112, 1127–1143 (1986).
Watterson, I. G. & Tuck, A. F. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16511–16525 (1989).
Tuck, A. F. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11687–11737 (1989).
Toon, O. B., Hamill, P., Turco, R. P. & Pinto, J. Geophys. Res. Lett. 13, 1284–1287 (1986).
Crutzen, P. J. & Arnold, F. Nature 324, 651–655 (1986).
McElroy, M. B., Salawitch, R. J. & Wofsy, S. C. Geophys. Res. Lett. 13, 1296–1299 (1986).
Pueschel, R. F. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11271–11284 (1989).
Arnold, F., Schlager, H., Hoffmann, J., Metzinger, P. & Spreng, S. Nature 342, 493–497 (1989).
Poole, L. R. & McCormick, M. P. J. geophys. Res. 93, 8423–8430 (1988).
Hanson, D. & Mauersberger, K. Geophys. Res. Lett. 15, 855–858 (1988).
Kondo, Y. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. (in the press).
Wilson, J. C. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16437–16448 (1989).
Hofmann, D. J. Rev. Geophys. 26, 113–130 (1990).
Kasten, F. J. appl. Met. 7, 944–947 (1968).
McCormick, M. P. et al Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Hofmann, D. J., Rosen, J. M., Harder, J. W. & Hereford, J. V. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11253–11269 (1989).
Salawitch, R. J., Gobbi, G. P., Wofsy, S. C. & McElroy, M. B. Nature 339, 525–527 (1989).
Toon, O. B., Turco, R. P., Jordan, J., Goodman, J. & Ferry, G. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11359–11380 (1989).
McKenna, D. S. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11641–11668 (1989).
Gary, B. L. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Wofsy, S. C. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Dye, J. E. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Turco, R. P., Toon, O. B. & Hamill, P. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16493–16510 (1989).
Scientific Assessment of Stratospheric Ozone: 1989 Rep, 20, Ch. 1 (World Meteororological Organization, 1990).
Jones, R. L., McKenna, D. S., Poole, L. R. & Solomon, S. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Kelly, K. K. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. (in the press).
Hansen, A. R. & Robinson, G. D. J. geophys. Res. 94, 8474–8484 (1989).
Toon, O. B., Turco, R. P. & Hamill, P. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fahey, D., Kelly, K., Kawa, S. et al. Observations of denitrification and dehydration in the winter polar stratospheres. Nature 344, 321–324 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/344321a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/344321a0
This article is cited by
-
Stratosphere NO y Species Measured by MIPAS and GOMOS Onboard ENVISAT During 2002–2010: Influence of Plasma Processes onto the Observed Distribution and Variability
Space Science Reviews (2012)
-
Prolonged stratospheric ozone loss in the 1995–96 Arctic winter
Nature (1997)
-
Evidence for heterogeneous reactions in the Antarctic autumn stratosphere
Nature (1993)
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.