A large atomic chlorine source inferred from mid-continental reactive nitrogen chemistry

Joel A. Thornton (), James P. Kercher, Theran P. Riedel, Nicholas L. Wagner, Julie Cozic, John S. Holloway, William P. Dubé, Glenn M. Wolfe, Patricia K. Quinn, Ann M. Middlebrook, Becky Alexander and Steven S. Brown
Additional contact information
Joel A. Thornton: Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
James P. Kercher: Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
Theran P. Riedel: Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
Nicholas L. Wagner: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
Julie Cozic: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
John S. Holloway: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
William P. Dubé: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
Glenn M. Wolfe: Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
Patricia K. Quinn: Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
Ann M. Middlebrook: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
Becky Alexander: Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
Steven S. Brown: Earth Systems Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA

Nature, 2010, vol. 464, issue 7286, 271-274

Abstract: Chlorine pollution revisited Chlorine atoms can profoundly affect the composition of the atmosphere. Notoriously, as chlorofluorocarbons, they were implicated in ozone depletion in the stratosphere. New observations suggest that chlorine may be a more potent force lower down in the atmosphere than was thought. The presence of gaseous chlorine atom precursors in the troposphere is generally considered a marine air phenomenon. But measurements made near Boulder, Colorado, reveal significant production of atmospheric nitryl chloride (ClNO2) in a continental setting, 1,400 km from the nearest coastline. This finding, incorporated into model studies, suggests that nitryl chloride production in the contiguous United States alone — probably arising from anthropogenic pollutants — is at a level similar to previous global estimates for marine regions.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08905

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