Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Abstract

To understand the chemistry of the atmosphere, we must consider chemical reactions, the effects of temperature on chemistry and dynamics, the sun’s role in photolysis reactions and atmospheric heating, and the interplay between dynamics and chemistry. This series of lectures provides a brief summary of the primary chemistry controlling stratospheric gases, particularly ozone. We first review some general chemical principles governing stratospheric chemistry, describe the concept of “family” chemistry, and discuss the principal chemical reactions that govern the interactions of key gases in the stratosphere. The development given here parallels that in Brasseur and Solomon (1984). We then discuss mid-latitude ozone depletion and probe the mechanisms likely to be responsible for it. Finally, we briefly summarize the chemistry of polar ozone depletion. These lecture notes are intended to summarize key concepts, but are not a review of the scientific literature upon which those concepts are based. A limited number of papers will be cited only where necessary, and generally to highlight very recent work not yet found in other reviews. For more information about the large volume of original work developing the chemistry discussed here, the reader is urged to examine the WMO/UNEP (1985, 1989, 1991, 1994) reviews and the original literature cited therein.