Research into causes of the Antarctic ozone hole

Solomon, working with colleagues at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, postulated the mechanism that the Antarctic ozone hole was created by a heterogeneous reaction of ozone and chlorofluorocarbons free radicals on the surface of ice particles in the high altitude clouds that form over Antarctica. In 1986 and 1987 Solomon led the National Ozone Expedition to McMurdo Sound, where the team gathered the evidence to confirm the accelerated reactions. Solomon was the solo leader of the expedition, and the only woman on the team. Her team measured levels of chlorine oxide 100 times higher than expected in the atmosphere, which had been released by the decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons by ultraviolet radiation.

first to propose the chlorofluorocarbon free radical reaction mechanism that is the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole.[3]

Category:
Chemistry - Atmospheric

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
N/A

Co-Inventor:
none