Ozone Formation Induced by the Impact of Reactive Bromine and Iodine Species on Photochemistry in a Polluted Marine Environment

M. Shechner, E. Tas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reactive iodine and bromine species (RIS and RBS, respectively) are known for altering atmospheric chemistry and causing sharp tropospheric ozone (O3) depletion in polar regions and significant O3 reduction in the marine boundary layer (MBL). Here we use measurement-based modeling to show that, unexpectedly, both RIS and RBS can lead to enhanced O3 formation in a polluted marine environment under volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited conditions associated with high nitrogen oxide (NOX = [NO] + [NO2]) concentrations. Under these conditions, the daily average O3 mixing ratio increased to ∼44 and ∼28% for BrO and IO mixing ratios of up to ∼6.8 and 4.7 ppt, respectively. The increase in the level of O3 was partially induced by enhanced ClNO3 formation for higher Br2 and I2 emission flux. The increase in the level of O3 was associated with an increased mixing ratio of hydroperoxyl radical to hydroxyl radical ([HO2]/[OH]) and increased [NO2]/[NO] with higher levels of RBS and/or RIS. NOX-rich conditions are typical of the polluted MBL, near coastlines and ship plumes. Considering that O3 is toxic to humans, plants, and animals and is a greenhouse gas, our findings call for adequate updating of local and regional air-quality models with the effects of activities of RBS and RIS on O3 mixing ratios in the polluted MBL.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14030-14037
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume51
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 Dec 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Chemical Society.

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