Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry

Measurements of O<sub>3</sub> and BrO concentrations over the Dead Sea indicate that Ozone Depletion Events (ODEs), widely known to happen in polar regions, are also occuring over the Dead Sea due to the very high bromine content of the Dead Sea water. However, we show th...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: R. von Glasow, L. Smoydzin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2009-07-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5057/2009/acp-9-5057-2009.pdf
_version_ 1819039452334391296
author R. von Glasow
L. Smoydzin
author_facet R. von Glasow
L. Smoydzin
author_sort R. von Glasow
collection DOAJ
description Measurements of O<sub>3</sub> and BrO concentrations over the Dead Sea indicate that Ozone Depletion Events (ODEs), widely known to happen in polar regions, are also occuring over the Dead Sea due to the very high bromine content of the Dead Sea water. However, we show that BrO and O<sub>3</sub> levels as they are detected cannot solely be explained by high Br<sup>−</sup> levels in the Dead Sea water and the release of gas phase halogen species out of sea borne aerosol particles and their conversion to reactive halogen species. It is likely that other sources for reactive halogen compounds are needed to explain the observed concentrations for BrO and O<sub>3</sub>. To explain the chemical mechanism taking place over the Dead Sea leading to BrO levels of several pmol/mol we used the one-dimensional model MISTRA which calculates microphysics, meteorology, gas and aerosol phase chemistry. We performed pseudo Lagrangian studies by letting the model column first move over the desert which surrounds the Dead Sea region and then let it move over the Dead Sea itself. To include an additional source for gas phase halogen compounds, gas exchange between the Dead Sea water and the atmosphere is treated explicitly. Model calculations indicate that this process has to be included to explain the measurements.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T08:53:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-664fb0f11f494879821831488d29fde6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1680-7316
1680-7324
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T08:53:26Z
publishDate 2009-07-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
spelling doaj.art-664fb0f11f494879821831488d29fde62022-12-21T19:09:38ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242009-07-0191450575072Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistryR. von GlasowL. SmoydzinMeasurements of O<sub>3</sub> and BrO concentrations over the Dead Sea indicate that Ozone Depletion Events (ODEs), widely known to happen in polar regions, are also occuring over the Dead Sea due to the very high bromine content of the Dead Sea water. However, we show that BrO and O<sub>3</sub> levels as they are detected cannot solely be explained by high Br<sup>−</sup> levels in the Dead Sea water and the release of gas phase halogen species out of sea borne aerosol particles and their conversion to reactive halogen species. It is likely that other sources for reactive halogen compounds are needed to explain the observed concentrations for BrO and O<sub>3</sub>. To explain the chemical mechanism taking place over the Dead Sea leading to BrO levels of several pmol/mol we used the one-dimensional model MISTRA which calculates microphysics, meteorology, gas and aerosol phase chemistry. We performed pseudo Lagrangian studies by letting the model column first move over the desert which surrounds the Dead Sea region and then let it move over the Dead Sea itself. To include an additional source for gas phase halogen compounds, gas exchange between the Dead Sea water and the atmosphere is treated explicitly. Model calculations indicate that this process has to be included to explain the measurements.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5057/2009/acp-9-5057-2009.pdf
spellingShingle R. von Glasow
L. Smoydzin
Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
title_full Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
title_fullStr Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
title_full_unstemmed Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
title_short Modelling chemistry over the Dead Sea: bromine and ozone chemistry
title_sort modelling chemistry over the dead sea bromine and ozone chemistry
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5057/2009/acp-9-5057-2009.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT rvonglasow modellingchemistryoverthedeadseabromineandozonechemistry
AT lsmoydzin modellingchemistryoverthedeadseabromineandozonechemistry