Abstract

One of the major chemical cycles controlling the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere is the catalytic destruction of ozone by chlorine¹. The principal source of free chlorine in the stratosphere is believed to be the photolysis of chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs) released in the troposphere by human activity. The principal sink of stratospheric chlorine is HCl, which diffuses downward to the troposphere where it rains out. HCl also serves as a temporary reservoir for chlorine, from which the active Cl can be released by reaction with hydroxyl. The concentration of stratospheric HCl and its variation with height, latitude, and season is thus a key quantity for understanding atmospheric chemistry.

© 1983 Optical Society of America