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Stratospheric CO 2 isotopic anomalies and SF 6 and CFC Tracer Concentrations in the Arctic Polar Vortex
Author(s) -
Alexander B.,
Vollmer M. K.,
Jackson T.,
Weiss R. F.,
Thiemens M. H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013692
Subject(s) - tracer , stratosphere , polar vortex , polar , arctic , isotope , isotopes of oxygen , atmosphere (unit) , photodissociation , oxygen , atmospheric sciences , trace gas , chemistry , oxygen 18 , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental chemistry , geology , physics , oceanography , meteorology , photochemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , astronomy , nuclear physics , nuclear chemistry
Isotopic measurements (δ 17 O and δ 18 O) of CO 2 along with concentration measurements of SF 6 , CCl 3 F (CFC‐11), CCl 2 F 2 (CFC‐12) and CCl 2 FCClF 2 (CFC‐113) in stratospheric samples collected within the Arctic polar vortex are reported. These are the first simultaneous measurements of the concentration of fluorinated compounds and the complete oxygen isotopic composition of CO 2 in the middle atmosphere. A mass‐independent anomaly in the oxygen isotopic composition of CO 2 is observed that arises from isotopic exchange with stratospheric O(¹D) derived from O 3 photolysis. The data exhibit a strong anti‐correlation between the Δ 17 O (the degree of the mass‐independent anomaly) and molecular tracer concentrations. The potential ability of this isotopic proxy to trace mesospheric and stratospheric transport is discussed.