Measurements Addressing the Initial Stages of Ozone Recovery, the Nucleation of, Index of Refraction of, and Existence of Large PSC Particles

在过去的二十年里，南极平流层臭氧在春季出现了相当迅速的下降，这是自20世纪30年代以来释放到大气中的卤素直接造成的。该提案寻求对麦克默多上空继续进行气球臭氧探空仪现场测量的支持，直至2008年。这些测量始于1986年，记录了随着氯的增加和达到最大值而观察到的平流层臭氧的下降和最小值。现在，重点正转向观察臭氧恢复的初步迹象。臭氧探空仪是唯一能够在臭氧遭受最大化学损失的高度范围内进行观测的设备，因此它们能够分离化学和输送影响。这些仪器可能是第一批确定氯减少带来的臭氧益处的仪器之一。2007年，拟与欧洲同事合作开展第二次国际南极活动，以测试臭氧损失的3-D化学传输模型；这项活动将作为有意开展的极地年活动的一部分，并将由McMurdo提供的第二年冬季/春季臭氧测量组成。这项研究的另一个重要方面是对南极极地平流层云的观测，将继续探讨与硝酸水合物成核、南极平流层云内大颗粒的存在以及极地平流层云颗粒折射率有关的问题。解决与PSC内的硝酸水合物成核有关的问题的措施将包括与欧洲VORCORE项目合作。因此，这项工作的主要学术价值在于获得和分析可能导致臭氧恢复的初步迹象的测量结果。这项工作的更广泛影响有几个方面。确立臭氧恢复的初步迹象的措施是向国际社会作出重要保证，以支持为限制向大气层排放氯而作出的商业牺牲。因此，除了科学意义外，在平流层氯达到最大值后的第一个十年内保持臭氧测量还具有广泛的社会影响。本研究还有助于博士后学者、工程师、技术员和研究生的培养和教育。

In the past twenty years there has been a rather rapid decline in Antarctic stratosphere ozone in the spring, which is due directly to halogens released into the atmosphere since the 1930s. This proposal seeks support for continuing in situ balloon-borne ozonesonde measurements over McMurdo through 2008. These measurements, begun in 1986, documented the decline and minimum in stratospheric ozone observed as chlorine increased and reached its maximum. Now the emphasis is shifting to observing the first signs of the ozone recovery. The ozonesondes are uniquely capable of observing in the altitude range where ozone suffers the greatest chemical loss, and thus they are able to separate chemical and transport effects. These instruments may be among the first to establish the ozone benefits resulting from declining chlorine. In 2007, it is proposed to collaborate with European colleagues in a second international Antarctic campaign to test the 3-D chemical transport models of ozone loss; this campaign will occur as part of the Intentional Polar Year activities and will consist of a second year of winter/spring ozone measurements from McMurdo. Another important aspect of the study is observations of the Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) in the Antarctic, which will be continued to address questions related to the nucleation of nitric acid hydrates, the existence of large particles within Antarctic PSCs, and the index of refraction of PSC particles. Measurements to address questions related to nucleation of nitric acid hydrates within PSCs will include collaboration with the European VORCORE project. Thus, the main intellectual merit of this work lies in obtaining and analyzing measurements that may lead to the first signs of ozone recovery. The broader impacts of this work have several aspects. Measurements establishing the first signs of ozone recovery are important reassurances to the world community in support of the commercial sacrifices that have been made to limit the release of chlorine into the atmosphere. Thus, in addition to the scientific interest, there are broad social implications dependent on maintaining ozone measurements through the first decade after maximum chlorine has been reached in the stratosphere. This research also contributes to the training and education of a post-doctoral scholar, engineer, technician, and graduate students.