Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study

The concept of Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODPs) is extensively used in policy considerations related to concerns about the effects of various halocarbons and other gases on stratospheric ozone. Many of the recent candidate replacement compounds have atmospheric lifetimes shorter than one year in or...

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Main Authors: D. J. Wuebbles, H. Lee, C.-W. So, K. O. Patten, D. Youn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2010-10-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/10129/2010/acp-10-10129-2010.pdf
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author D. J. Wuebbles
H. Lee
C.-W. So
K. O. Patten
D. Youn
author_facet D. J. Wuebbles
H. Lee
C.-W. So
K. O. Patten
D. Youn
author_sort D. J. Wuebbles
collection DOAJ
description The concept of Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODPs) is extensively used in policy considerations related to concerns about the effects of various halocarbons and other gases on stratospheric ozone. Many of the recent candidate replacement compounds have atmospheric lifetimes shorter than one year in order to limit their environmental effects, especially on stratospheric ozone. Using a three-dimensional global chemistry-transport model (CTM) of the troposphere and the stratosphere, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of several very short-lived iodinated substances, namely iodotrifluoromethane (CF<sub>3</sub>I) and methyl iodide (CH<sub>3</sub>I), on atmospheric ozone. Like other chemicals with extremely short lifetimes, the stratospheric halogen loading and resulting ozone effects from these compounds are strongly dependent on the location of emissions. For CF<sub>3</sub>I, a possible replacement candidate for bromotrifluoromethane (CF<sub>3</sub>Br), ODPs derived by the three-dimensional model are 0.008 with chemical lifetime of 5.03 days and 0.016 with a lifetime of 1.13 days for emissions assumed to be evenly distributed over land surfaces at mid-latitudes and the tropics, respectively. While this is the first time the ODPs have been evaluated with a three-dimensional model, these values are in good agreement with those derived previously. The model calculations suggest that tropical convection could deliver a larger portion of the gas and their breakdown products to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere if emission source is located in the tropics. The resulting ODP for CH<sub>3</sub>I, emitted from mid-latitudes, is 0.017 with lifetime of 13.59 days. Valid simulations of convective transport, vertical mixing and degradation chemistry of CH<sub>3</sub>I are shown that have good qualitative agreement between the model derived distribution of background CH<sub>3</sub>I, based on global source emission fluxes from previous studies, and available observations especially in vertical profiles.
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spelling doaj.art-b4d186b8dac54b6b8673b3db6eb5f4aa2022-12-22T01:28:24ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242010-10-011020101291014410.5194/acp-10-10129-2010Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling studyD. J. WuebblesH. LeeC.-W. SoK. O. PattenD. YounThe concept of Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODPs) is extensively used in policy considerations related to concerns about the effects of various halocarbons and other gases on stratospheric ozone. Many of the recent candidate replacement compounds have atmospheric lifetimes shorter than one year in order to limit their environmental effects, especially on stratospheric ozone. Using a three-dimensional global chemistry-transport model (CTM) of the troposphere and the stratosphere, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of several very short-lived iodinated substances, namely iodotrifluoromethane (CF<sub>3</sub>I) and methyl iodide (CH<sub>3</sub>I), on atmospheric ozone. Like other chemicals with extremely short lifetimes, the stratospheric halogen loading and resulting ozone effects from these compounds are strongly dependent on the location of emissions. For CF<sub>3</sub>I, a possible replacement candidate for bromotrifluoromethane (CF<sub>3</sub>Br), ODPs derived by the three-dimensional model are 0.008 with chemical lifetime of 5.03 days and 0.016 with a lifetime of 1.13 days for emissions assumed to be evenly distributed over land surfaces at mid-latitudes and the tropics, respectively. While this is the first time the ODPs have been evaluated with a three-dimensional model, these values are in good agreement with those derived previously. The model calculations suggest that tropical convection could deliver a larger portion of the gas and their breakdown products to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere if emission source is located in the tropics. The resulting ODP for CH<sub>3</sub>I, emitted from mid-latitudes, is 0.017 with lifetime of 13.59 days. Valid simulations of convective transport, vertical mixing and degradation chemistry of CH<sub>3</sub>I are shown that have good qualitative agreement between the model derived distribution of background CH<sub>3</sub>I, based on global source emission fluxes from previous studies, and available observations especially in vertical profiles.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/10129/2010/acp-10-10129-2010.pdf
spellingShingle D. J. Wuebbles
H. Lee
C.-W. So
K. O. Patten
D. Youn
Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
title_full Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
title_fullStr Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
title_full_unstemmed Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
title_short Potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds CF<sub>3</sub>I and CH<sub>3</sub>I on atmospheric ozone: a three-dimensional modeling study
title_sort potential impact of iodinated replacement compounds cf sub 3 sub i and ch sub 3 sub i on atmospheric ozone a three dimensional modeling study
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/10129/2010/acp-10-10129-2010.pdf
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