Showing papers by "Paul J. Crutzen published in 1973"
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion is given of atmospheric reactions in the H2O−CH4−O2−O3−NO ≥ 3−NO fixme x system.
Abstract: A discussion is given of atmospheric reactions in the H2O−CH4−O2−O3−NO
x
system. In the lower troposphere such reactions may lead to significant production of ozone. Their role in the odd hydrogen balance, especially of the troposphere and lower stratosphere, is discussed. CH3OH may be an intermediate in the oxidation cycle of methane, especially in the cold stratosphere. Its photodissociation into H2 and CH2O may consequently provide an important source for stratospheric H2. Catalytic photochemical chains of reactions involving NO
x
and HO
x
may also lead to tropospheric destruction of ozone. Due to lack of knowledge it is not possible at present to evaluate the importance of the before-mentioned reactions. With the aid of model calculations it is indicated that stratospheric ozone is most sensitive to changes in the adopted lower boundary values of N2O and that an increase in water vapour concentrations in the lower stratosphere will indeed cause some increase in ozone as predicted. Fluctuations in the flux of solar radiation near 190 nm may cause significant variations in stratospheric ozone concentrations.
485 citations
01 Jan 1973
TL;DR: The chemistry of the stratosphere has become a very important and controversial topic, since it was proposed that large scale SST operation could cause a reduction in atmospheric O3 due to the catalytic action of nitrogen oxides emitted from the exhaust as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The chemistry (and meteorology) of the stratosphere has become a very important and controversial topic, since it was proposed that large scale SST operation could cause a reduction in atmospheric O3 due to the catalytic action of nitrogen oxides emitted from the exhaust (Crutzen, 1971; Johnston, 1971.) There are strong indications that oxides of nitrogen play the dominant role in controlling the natural atmospheric O3 content (Crutzen, 1970), but too little is known about the details of the chemistry of nitrogen oxides in the stratosphere, a subject which is treated by Nicolet (1971). Important new ideas have emerged in recent years about the main chemical processes in the stratosphere. The main purpose of this paper is to outline some of these ideas and to indicate the main problems. Some possible consequences for the gas phase chemistry of the troposphere have been indicated on the basis of recent models by Levy (1971, 1972) and McConnell et al. (1971).
57 citations