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Ozone depletion over the polar caps caused by solar protons
Author(s) -
Stephenson Judy A. E.,
Scourfield Malcolm W. J.
Publication year - 1992
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 - 10.1029/92gl02925
Subject(s) - polar , ozone depletion , atmospheric sciences , ozone , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , ozone layer , satellite , astrobiology , total ozone mapping spectrometer , physics , stratosphere , meteorology , astronomy
Energetic solar protons are a natural source of ozone depletion due to nitric oxides they produce in the earth's atmosphere. In March 1989, following a period of intense solar activity, the TOMS instrument aboard the Nimbus 7 satellite recorded very similar ozone losses over both polar caps for areas extending from 90° to 70°. Ozone depletions of 7.4 × 10 9 kg for the south polar cap and 8.0 × 10 9 kg for the north polar cap indicate the degree of symmetry over the polar caps.