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A large atomic chlorine source inferred from mid-continental reactive nitrogen chemistry

Author

Listed:
  • Joel A. Thornton

    (Department of Atmospheric Sciences,)

  • James P. Kercher

    (Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio 44234, USA.)

  • Theran P. Riedel

    (Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
    University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA)

  • Nicholas L. Wagner

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA)

  • Julie Cozic

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA)

  • John S. Holloway

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA)

  • William P. Dubé

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA)

  • Glenn M. Wolfe

    (Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
    University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA)

  • Patricia K. Quinn

    (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA)

  • Ann M. Middlebrook

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA)

  • Becky Alexander

    (Department of Atmospheric Sciences,)

  • Steven S. Brown

    (Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA)

Abstract

Chlorine pollution revisited Chlorine atoms can profoundly affect the composition of the atmosphere. Notoriously, as chlorofluorocarbons, they were implicated in ozone depletion in the stratosphere. New observations suggest that chlorine may be a more potent force lower down in the atmosphere than was thought. The presence of gaseous chlorine atom precursors in the troposphere is generally considered a marine air phenomenon. But measurements made near Boulder, Colorado, reveal significant production of atmospheric nitryl chloride (ClNO2) in a continental setting, 1,400 km from the nearest coastline. This finding, incorporated into model studies, suggests that nitryl chloride production in the contiguous United States alone — probably arising from anthropogenic pollutants — is at a level similar to previous global estimates for marine regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Joel A. Thornton & James P. Kercher & Theran P. Riedel & Nicholas L. Wagner & Julie Cozic & John S. Holloway & William P. Dubé & Glenn M. Wolfe & Patricia K. Quinn & Ann M. Middlebrook & Becky Alexand, 2010. "A large atomic chlorine source inferred from mid-continental reactive nitrogen chemistry," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7286), pages 271-274, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:464:y:2010:i:7286:d:10.1038_nature08905
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08905
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    Cited by:

    1. Qinyi Li & Rafael P. Fernandez & Ryan Hossaini & Fernando Iglesias-Suarez & Carlos A. Cuevas & Eric C. Apel & Douglas E. Kinnison & Jean-François Lamarque & Alfonso Saiz-Lopez, 2022. "Reactive halogens increase the global methane lifetime and radiative forcing in the 21st century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Xiang Peng & Tao Wang & Weihao Wang & A. R. Ravishankara & Christian George & Men Xia & Min Cai & Qinyi Li & Christian Mark Salvador & Chiho Lau & Xiaopu Lyu & Chun Nan Poon & Abdelwahid Mellouki & Yu, 2022. "Photodissociation of particulate nitrate as a source of daytime tropospheric Cl2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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