Natural halogens buffer tropospheric ozone in a changing climate

Fernando Iglesias-Suarez, Alba Badia, Rafael P. Fernandez, Carlos A. Cuevas, Douglas E. Kinnison, Simone Tilmes, Jean-François Lamarque, Mathew C. Long, Ryan Hossaini and Alfonso Saiz-Lopez ()
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Fernando Iglesias-Suarez: Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC
Alba Badia: Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC
Rafael P. Fernandez: Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC
Carlos A. Cuevas: Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC
Douglas E. Kinnison: Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modelling, NCAR
Simone Tilmes: Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modelling, NCAR
Jean-François Lamarque: Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modelling, NCAR
Mathew C. Long: Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, NCAR
Ryan Hossaini: Lancaster University
Alfonso Saiz-Lopez: Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC

Nature Climate Change, 2020, vol. 10, issue 2, 147-154

Abstract: Abstract Reactive atmospheric halogens destroy tropospheric ozone (O3), an air pollutant and greenhouse gas. The primary source of natural halogens is emissions from marine phytoplankton and algae, as well as abiotic sources from ocean and tropospheric chemistry, but how their fluxes will change under climate warming, and the resulting impacts on O3, are not well known. Here, we use an Earth system model to estimate that natural halogens deplete approximately 13% of tropospheric O3 in the present-day climate. Despite increased levels of natural halogens through the twenty-first century, this fraction remains stable due to compensation from hemispheric, regional and vertical heterogeneity in tropospheric O3 loss. Notably, this halogen-driven O3 buffering is projected to be greatest over polluted and populated regions, due mainly to iodine chemistry, with important implications for air quality.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0675-6

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