Stratospheric CH sub(4) , HCl and ClO and the chlorine-ozone cycle

Since it was suggested that chlorine may influence stratospheric ozone balance, and that halocarbons can contribute significantly to the stratospheric chlorine content, much attention has been paid to the subject. A new determination is reported of atmospheric methane levels, which gives a value low...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1977-01, Vol.269 (5625), p.226-227
Main Authors: Ackerman, M, Frimout, D, Muller, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Since it was suggested that chlorine may influence stratospheric ozone balance, and that halocarbons can contribute significantly to the stratospheric chlorine content, much attention has been paid to the subject. A new determination is reported of atmospheric methane levels, which gives a value lower than that often assumed by other workers. In model calculations, this suggests that chlorine has a greater effect on the ozone balance than previously suspected. The new determination of CH sub(4) was made by using IR absorption spectrometry from a balloon platform to give methane mixing ratios over 25 km lower than those currently used in stratospheric models. Results, shown in a figure, were derived from spectra of the 3.3- mu m CH sub(4) band obtained simultaneously with HCl absorption spectra.
ISSN:0028-0836