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，南极平流层的臭氧在春季下降得相当快，这是由于20世纪30年代以来向大气中释放的卤素直接造成的。本提案寻求支持在2008年继续在麦克默多上空进行气球臭氧探测仪原位测量。这些测量始于1986年，记录了随着氯的增加和达到最大值，平流层臭氧的下降和最小值。现在，重点转向观察臭氧层恢复的最初迹象。臭氧探测仪具有独特的观测能力，能够在臭氧遭受最大化学损失的高度范围内进行观测，因此它们能够区分化学和传输效应。这些仪器可能是最早确定氯减少对臭氧有益的仪器之一。2007年，它被提议与欧洲同事合作进行第二次国际南极运动，以测试臭氧损失的三维化学传输模型；这项活动将作为国际极地年活动的一部分，包括第二年在麦克默多进行冬季/春季臭氧测量。该研究的另一个重要方面是对南极极地平流层云（PSC）的观测，这将继续解决与硝酸水合物成核、南极PSC内存在大颗粒以及PSC颗粒折射率有关的问题。解决psc内硝酸水合物成核相关问题的措施将包括与欧洲VORCORE项目的合作。因此，这项工作的主要智力价值在于获得和分析可能导致臭氧恢复的最初迹象的测量结果。这项工作的广泛影响有几个方面。确定臭氧恢复的初步迹象的测量是对国际社会的重要保证，支持为限制向大气中释放氯而作出的商业牺牲。因此，除了科学意义之外，在平流层中氯含量达到最大值后的头十年保持臭氧测量还具有广泛的社会意义。这项研究也有助于培养和教育博士后学者、工程师、技术人员和研究生。

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.