A new interpretation of total column BrO during Arctic spring

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Authors
Salawitch, R.J.
Canty, T.
Kurosu, T.
Chance, K.
Liang, Q.
Da Silva, A.
Pawson, S.
Nielsen, J.E.
Rodriguez, J.M.
Bhartia, P.K.
Liu, X.
Huey, L.G.
Liao, J.
Stickel, R.E.
Tanner, D.J.
Dibb, J.E.
Simpson, W.R.
Donohoue, D.
Weinheimer, A.
Flocke, F.
Knapp, D.
Montzka, D.
Neuman, J.A.
Nowak, J.B.
Ryerson, T.B.
Oltmans, S.
Blake, D.R.
Atlas, E.L.
Kinnison, D.E.
Tilmes, S.
Pan, L.L.
Hendrick, F.
Van Roozendael, M.
Kreher, K.
Johnston, P.V.
Gao, R.S.
Johnson, B.
Bui, T.P.
Chen, G.
Pierce, R.B.
Crawford, J.H.
Jacob, D.J.
Discipline
Earth and related Environmental sciences
Subject
Atmospheric composition
Atmospherics
Bromine
Ozone
Salt removal
Troposphere
Upper atmosphere
Airborne measurements
Column abundance
Convective boundary layers
Field campaign
Frost flowers
Geographic variation
Hotspots
Lowermost stratosphere
Partial columns
Sea salt aerosol
Surface ozone
Total column ozone
Snow and ice removal
aerosol composition
atmospheric chemistry
bromine
convective boundary layer
ice lead
ozone
satellite imagery
sea salt
seasonality
snow
stratosphere
tropopause
Arctic
Audience
Scientific
Date
2010Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
Emission of bromine from sea-salt aerosol, frost flowers, ice leads, and snow results in the nearly complete removal of surface ozone during Arctic spring. Regions of enhanced total column BrO observed by satellites have traditionally been associated with these emissions. However, airborne measurements of BrO and O3 within the convective boundary layer (CBL) during the ARCTAS and ARCPAC field campaigns at times bear little relation to enhanced column BrO. We show that the locations of numerous satellite BrO "hotspots" during Arctic spring are consistent with observations of total column ozone and tropopause height, suggesting a stratospheric origin to these regions of elevated BrO. Tropospheric enhancements of BrO large enough to affect the column abundance are also observed, with important contributions originating from above the CBL. Closure of the budget for total column BrO, albeit with significant uncertainty, is achieved by summing observed tropospheric partial columns with calculated stratospheric partial columns provided that natural, short-lived biogenic bromocarbons supply between 5 and 10 ppt of bromine to the Arctic lowermost stratosphere. Proper understanding of bromine and its effects on atmospheric composition requires accurate treatment of geographic variations in column BrO originating from both the stratosphere and troposphere. Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
Citation
Salawitch, R.J.; Canty, T.; Kurosu, T.; Chance, K.; Liang, Q.; Da Silva, A.; Pawson, S.; Nielsen, J.E.; Rodriguez, J.M.; Bhartia, P.K.; Liu, X.; Huey, L.G.; Liao, J.; Stickel, R.E.; Tanner, D.J.; Dibb, J.E.; Simpson, W.R.; Donohoue, D.; Weinheimer, A.; Flocke, F.; Knapp, D.; Montzka, D.; Neuman, J.A.; Nowak, J.B.; Ryerson, T.B.; Oltmans, S.; Blake, D.R.; Atlas, E.L.; Kinnison, D.E.; Tilmes, S.; Pan, L.L.; Hendrick, F.; Van Roozendael, M.; Kreher, K.; Johnston, P.V.; Gao, R.S.; Johnson, B.; Bui, T.P.; Chen, G.; Pierce, R.B.; Crawford, J.H.; Jacob, D.J. (2010). A new interpretation of total column BrO during Arctic spring. , Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 37, Issue 21, L21805, DOI: 10.1029/2010GL043798.Identifiers
scopus: 2-s2.0-77956017933
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
eng