R J. Salawitch, University of Maryland at College Park
T Canty, University of Maryland at College Park
T P. Kurosu, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsFollow
K Chance, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Q Liang, University of Maryland - College Park
Arlindo da Silva, NASA
S Pawson, NASA
J E. Neilsen, Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
J. V. Rodriguez, University of Colorado Boulder
P K. Bhartia, NASA
X Liu, University of Baltimore
L Gregory Huey, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
J Liao, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
R E. Stickel, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
D Tanner, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Jack E. Dibb, University of New HampshireFollow
W R. Simpson, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
D Donohue, University of Alaska
Andrew Weinheimer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
F Flocke, National Center for Atmospheric Research
D Knapp, NCAR
D Montzka, National Center for Atmospheric Research
J A. Neuman, University of Colorado Boulder
J Nowak, NOAA
Thomas B. Ryerson, NOAA
S J. Oltmans, NOAA
D R. Blake, University of California, Irvine
E L. Atlas, University of MiamiFollow
D Kinnison, National Center for Atmospheric Research
S Tilmes, National Center for Atmospheric Research
L L. Pan, National Center for Atmospheric Research
F Hendrick, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
R Bradley Pierce, NOAA
M Van Roozendael, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
K Kreher, NASA
P V. Johnston, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
R S. Gao, NOAA
B Johnson, NOAAFollow
T P. Bui, NASA
G Chen, NASAFollow
R B. Pierce, NOAA
J H. Crawford, Georgia Institute of TechnologyFollow
D J. Jacob, Harvard University

Abstract

Emission of bromine from sea-salt aerosol, frost flowers, ice leads, and snow results in the nearly complete removal of surface ozone during Arctic spring. Regions of enhanced total column BrO observed by satellites have traditionally been associated with these emissions. However, airborne measurements of BrO and O3 within the convective boundary layer (CBL) during the ARCTAS and ARCPAC field campaigns at times bear little relation to enhanced column BrO. We show that the locations of numerous satellite BrO “hotspots” during Arctic spring are consistent with observations of total column ozone and tropopause height, suggesting a stratospheric origin to these regions of elevated BrO. Tropospheric enhancements of BrO large enough to affect the column abundance are also observed, with important contributions originating from above the CBL. Closure of the budget for total column BrO, albeit with significant uncertainty, is achieved by summing observed tropospheric partial columns with calculated stratospheric partial columns provided that natural, short-lived biogenic bromocarbons supply between 5 and 10 ppt of bromine to the Arctic lowermost stratosphere. Proper understanding of bromine and its effects on atmospheric composition requires accurate treatment of geographic variations in column BrO originating from both the stratosphere and troposphere.

Department

Earth Sciences, Earth Systems Research Center

Publication Date

11-2010

Journal Title

Geophysical Research Letters

Publisher

American Geophysical Union Publications

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1029/2010GL043798

Document Type

Article

Rights

Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.

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