Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Ozone loss in the Arctic polar vortex inferred from high-altitude aircraft measurements

Abstract

The Arctic polar vortex in winter is known to be chemically primed for ozone depletion, yet it does not exhibit the large seasonal ozone decrease that characterizes its southern counterpart. This difference may be due in part to a net flux of ozone-rich air through the Arctic vortex, which can mask ozone loss. But by using a chemically con-served tracer as a reference, significant ozone loss can be identified. This loss is found to be correlated with high levels of chlorine monoxide, suggesting that much of the decrease in ozone is caused by anthropogenic emissions of chlorofluorocarbons.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Farman, J. C., Gardiner, B. G. & Shanklin, J. D. Nature 315, 207–210 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hofmann, D. J., Harder, J. W., Rolf, S. R. & Rosen, J. R. Nature 326, 59–62 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. de Zafra, R. L. et al. Nature 328, 408–411 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Solomon, S., Mount, G. H., Sanders, R. W. & Sohmeltekopf, A. L. J. geophys. Res. 92, 8329–8338 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. J. geophys. Res. 94, Nos. D9 and D14 (1989).

  6. Proffitt, M. H. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16547–16555 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Loewenstein, M., Podolske, J. R., Chan, K. R. & Strahan, S. E. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11589–11598 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Brune, W. H., Anderson, J. G. & Chan, K. R. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16649–16663 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chan, K. R., Scott, S. G., Bui, T. P., Bowen, S. W. & Day, J. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11573–11587 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Proffitt et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11437–11448 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Anderson, J. G. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11480–11520 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jones, R. L. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11529–11558 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rodriguez, J. M. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16683–16703 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Farman, J. C. Phil Trans. R. Soc. B 279, 261–271 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Juckes, M. N. & Mclntyre, M. E. Nature 328, 590–596 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hartmann, D. L. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16779–16795 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Danielsen, E. F. & Houben, H. Anthropogene Beeinflussung der Ozonschicht, 191–242 (DECHEMA-Frankfurt am Main, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Tuck, A. F. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11687–11737 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Proffitt, M. H. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16797–16813 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Murphy, D. M. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 11669–11685 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Watterson, I. G. & Tuck, A. F. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16511–16525 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cariolle, D., Lasserre-Bigorry, A. & Royer, J-F. J. geophys. Res. 95, 1883–1898 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hofmann, D. J. et al. Nature 340, 117–121 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Evans, W. F. J. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 167–170 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ozone Trends Panel Present State of Knowledge of the Upper Atmosphere, 1988, NASA Ref. Publn 1208 (Natn. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, Virginia, 1989).

  26. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, No. 4 (1990).

  27. Proffitt, M. H., Fahey, D. W., Kelly, K. K. & Tuck, A. F. Nature 342, 233–237 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Solomon, S., Garcia, R. R. & Stordal, F. J. geophys. Res. 90, 12981–12989 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Garcia, R. R. & Solomon, S. J. geophys. Res. 90, 3850–3868 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Brasseur, G. J. & Solomon, S. Aeronomy of the Middle Atmosphere 2nd Edn (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1986).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  31. Perliski, L. M., Solomon, S. & London, J. Planet Space Sci. 37, 1527–1538 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Strahan, S. E. et al. J. geophys. Res. 94, 16749–16756 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gunson, M. R. et al. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).

  34. Rosenfield, J. E., Schoeberl, M. R., Lait, L. R. & Newman, P. A. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 345–348 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Schoeberl, M. R. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 469–472 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Brewer, A. W. Q. Jl R. met. Soc. 75, 351–363 (1949).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Dobson, G. M. G. Proc. R. Soc. A236, 187–193 (1956).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Brewer, A. W. & Wilson, A. W. Q. Jl R. met. Soc. 94, 249–265 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Dütsch, H. U. Can. J. Chem. 52, 1491–1504 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. London, J. F., Bojkov, S., Oltmans, S. & Kelley, J. I. Atlas of the Global Distribution of Total Ozone July 1957–June 1967 NCAR tech. Note 113 (NCAR, Boulder, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Bojkov, R. D. & Rumen, D. Met. atmos. Phys. 38, 117–130 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Ozone Data for the World, Atmospheric Environment Service Vol. No. 3 30. 312–318 (Can. Atmos. Envir. Serv. & World Met. Org., Toronto, 1989).

  43. Leovy, C. B. et al. J. atmos. Sci. 42, 230–244 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kent, G. S., Trepte, C. R., Farrukh, U. H. & McCormick, M. P. J. atmos. Sci. 42, 1536–1551 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Farman, J. C., Murgatroyd, R. J., Silnickas, A.M. Thrush, B. A. Q. Jl R. met. Soc. 111, 1013–1028 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Salawitch, R. J. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 561–564 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. McKenna, D. S. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 553–556 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Brune, W. R., Toohey, D. W., Anderson, J. G. & Chan, K. R. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 505–508 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Browell, E. V. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 17, 325–328 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Proffitt, M., Margitan, J., Kelly, K. et al. Ozone loss in the Arctic polar vortex inferred from high-altitude aircraft measurements. Nature 347, 31–36 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347031a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347031a0

This article is cited by

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.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing