Australian wildfires depleted the ozone layer

Salawitch, R. J.; McBride, L.

doi:10.1126/science.add2056

Cited by 16 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…However, further in-situ observations are required for improvement of understanding of TCALs. Overall, this study provides new insights into TCALs and should aid further study of interactions between aerosols and atmospheric dynamics, especially concerning their impact on stratospheric chemistry and climate change (Bian et al 2020, Salawitch and McBride 2022, Solomon et al 2022.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…The phenomenon was first discovered over Asia during the boreal summer through satellite retrieval and model simulation and was known as the Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL) (Vernier et al 2011, Yu et al 2017. The presence of the ATAL can significantly alter precipitation (Fadnavis et al 2017), deplete stratospheric ozone (Salawitch andMcBride 2022, Solomon et al 2022), and inhibit surface warming (Fadnavis et al 2019), resulting in considerable impacts on the environment, hydrology, and even human life in Asia (Yuan et al 2019b, Liu et al 2020, Usha et al 2022.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Divergent features of the upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer: effects of atmospheric dynamics and pollution emissions in Asia, South America, and Africa

Wu,

Yan,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Environ. Res. Lett.

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The upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer (TCAL) represents the increase of aerosols in the upper-troposphere. It was first discovered over Asia but was found in this study to also occur over South America and Africa. The TCALs over three regions typically exist during the strong deep convection season, with the Asian, South American, and African TCALs showing peak intensity during July–August, October–December, and November–December, respectively. Over Asia, the TCAL has the highest altitude and widest spread due to strongest deep convection and upper-troposphere anticyclonic system. TCAL intensity is highest in South America maybe due to heaviest pollutant emissions. Anthropogenic pollution from India and western China produces two Asian TCAL centers, whereas widespread wildfires result in single centers over South America and Africa. TCAL radiative effect at the top of the atmosphere has warming effects over Asia (+0.23 W m−2), whereas cooling effects perform over South America (−0.54 W m−2) and Africa (−0.20 W m−2) owing to its altitude and the divergent strengths of black-carbon absorption and organic-carbon scattering.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent features of the upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer: effects of atmospheric dynamics and pollution emissions in Asia, South America, and Africa

Wu,

Yan,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Refrigerants have evolved since the 1800s and CFCs were welcomingly introduced in 1928, known to be a series of safe, stable, good refrigeration performance, and economical refrigerants until their damaging effects on the ozone layer were discovered in the 1970s. Zero or low ODP and zero or low GWP became desired performance characteristics to the point since the searches for alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs began in the 1970s [6]. In 1995, Rowland and [7].…”

Section: Refrigerants and Ozone Depletionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CFCs and HCFCs have been used widely in many applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, foam blowing, spray can propellants, and cleaning of metals and electronic components. Reactive chlorine gases Cl and ClO were observed and measured in the stratosphere using both local and remote measurement techniques [6]. In the troposphere, chlorine-containing source gases emitted by human activities are chemically stable, undergo little or no loss, and accumulate, until transported to the stratosphere by air motions.…”

Section: Ozone-depleting Chemicals-chlorine and Chlorine Monoxidementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Chlorine and Chlorine Monoxide on Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Wei,

Alelmi,

Nieh

2024

ACS

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This paper presents a system approach of mass balance calculations of ozone and other species under diffusion-convection-reaction processes to study the impacts of major ozone-depleting chemicals, chlorine (Cl) and chlorine monoxide (ClO), and the effect of photolysis on ozone concentrations, ozone depletion, total ozone abundance, and ozone layer along the altitude in the stratosphere. The calculated ozone concentrations and profile of the layer followed a similar trend and were generally in good agreement with the measurements above the tropical area. The calculated peak of the layer was at the same mid-stratosphere at Z = 30 km with a peak concentration and total ozone abundance about 20% higher than the measured peak concentration of 8.0 ppm and total abundance of 399 DU. In the presence of Cl and ClO, the calculated ozone concentrations and total abundance were substantially reduced. Cl generally depleted more uniformly of ozone across the altitude, while ClO reduced substantially the ozone in the upper stratosphere and thus shifted the peak of the layer to a much lower elevation at Z = 14 km. Although both ClO and Cl are active ozone-depleting chemicals, ClO was found to have a more pronounced impact on ozone depletion and distribution than Cl. The possible explanations of these interesting phenomena were discussed and elaborated. The approach and calculations in this paper were shown to be useful in providing an initial insight into the structure and behavior of the complex ozone layer.

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“…Biomass burning, including open and indoor biofuel combustion, is one of the largest sources of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases [ 1 ], and therefore dramatically impacts air quality, global climate, and human health [ 2 , 3 ]. Wildfires and other open burning contribute to >50% of the global black carbon and primary organic aerosol, and some megafires can deplete the stratospheric ozone layer [ 4 , 5 ] and enhance cloud formation [ 6 , 7 ]. Wildfire emissions can transport for a long distance (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the dominant contribution of intermediate volatility compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation from biomass-burning emissions

Li,

Zhang,

Bell

et al. 2024

National Science Review

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Organic vapors from biomass burning are a large source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Previous smog chamber studies found that the SOA contributors in biomass-burning emissions are mainly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) are efficient SOA precursors and a considerable fraction of biomass-burning emissions, their contribution to SOA formation has not been directly observed. Here, by deploying a newly-developed oxidation flow reactor to study SOA formation from wood burning, we find that IVOCs can contribute ∼70% of the formed SOA, i.e., >2 times more than VOCs. This previously missing SOA fraction is interpreted to be due to the high wall losses of semi-volatile oxidation products of IVOCs in smog chambers. The finding in this study reveals that SOA production from biomass burning is much higher than previously thought, and highlights the urgent need for more research on the IVOCs from biomass burning and potentially other emission sources.

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Australian wildfires depleted the ozone layer

Abstract: Various mechanisms initiated by wildfires thinned the stratospheric ozone layer

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Divergent features of the upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer: effects of atmospheric dynamics and pollution emissions in Asia, South America, and Africa

Divergent features of the upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer: effects of atmospheric dynamics and pollution emissions in Asia, South America, and Africa

Effects of Chlorine and Chlorine Monoxide on Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Uncovering the dominant contribution of intermediate volatility compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation from biomass-burning emissions

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