Effect of NO(x) on Stratospheric Ozone.

The chemical reactions of significance in determining the photochemical equilibrium concentration of O3 in the dry stratosphere when NOx i.e., the total of NO and NO2 is present are discussed. The appropriate rate equations are put into compact, nondimensional form for calculating the reduction in O3 caused by NOx, and numerical solutions are given for a range of parameters likely to cover all cases of practical interest. A strongly catalytic effect of NOx in reducing O3 is indicated. Specific calculations for typical atmospheric conditions are presented which show that the inclusion of naturally present NOx at a mole fraction of about 10 to the -8th improves considerably the agreement between theoretical and experimental O3 profiles. The possible effects of the artificial addition of NOx as by large-scale SST operations is considered, and it is emphasized that the relative importance of this is crucially dependent on the amount of NOx already present naturally. Author