Unresolved Problems in the Chemistry of the Middle Atmosphere

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the unresolved problems of chemistry of the middle atmosphere related to the atmospheric lifetime of the O_x family and its O₃, O(³P), and O(¹D) components, as well as problems associated with the odd oxygen loss in the O_x, HO_x, NO_x, ClO_x, and BrO_x catalytic cycles. We showed that modern interpretations of the odd oxygen concept do not allow obtaining reliable data on the atmospheric lifetime of an odd oxygen family and its components, which is of fundamental importance for the chemistry of the middle atmosphere. Existing methods for determining the rate of ozone depletion in the above cycles are also shown not to have taken into account the chain nature of atmospheric ozone destruction, which leads to significant errors in the results of calculations made using them. We provide the algorithm for a correct estimate of the atmospheric lifetime of the O_x family, as well as an algorithm for calculating the rate of ozone depletion in the O_x, HO_x, NO_x, ClO_x, and BrO_x cycles, which is also used to calculate the atmospheric lifetime of the O_x family.