Observational evidence for interhemispheric hydroxyl parity
Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 05:10
in Earth & Climate
A new study published today in Nature based on observational data and modeling shows that surprisingly the self-cleansing power of the atmosphere does not differ substantially between the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere. Up to now model simulations generally showed higher levels of hydroxyl (the dominant "bleaching agent" of the atmosphere that oxidizes many pollutants) in the Northern Hemisphere (NH). This seemed logical in view of the massive amounts of nitrogen oxides emitted by traffic, domestic heating and industry in the NH. These nitrogen oxides act as catalysts that promote the formation of ozone (ozone smog) and subsequently hydroxyl.
