High levels of molecular chlorine discovered in arctic atmosphere

Scientists have discovered an unprecedented level of molecular chlorine in the atmosphere over Barrow, Alaska, a new study reports.

The chlorine concentrations are peaking during the early morning and late afternoon hours, the investigators added, and plummeting to near zero levels during the nighttime. The daytime levels were correlated with ozone concentration, suggesting that the molecular chlorine requires sunlight and ozone in order to form, they added.

“Previous Arctic studies have documented high levels of oxidized mercury in Barrow and other polar regions,” the school explained. “The major source of elemental mercury in the Arctic regions is coal-burning plants around the world. In the spring in Barrow, ozone and elemental mercury are often depleted from the atmosphere when halogens – chlorine and bromine – are released into the air from melting sea ice.”

The new research also concluded that chlorine atoms are the primary oxidant in Barrow, a region that otherwise has low levels of atmospheric oxidants. This is said to be due to the lack of ozone and water vapor, which are the primary predecessors to the creation of oxidants in several urban regions.

Bu Haber için yorum yapabilirsiniz 23.05.2014 14:15:48 204.236.235.245

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