A new source of ozone in the terrestrial upper atmosphere?

Abstract

The simultaneous measurements of atomic O, O2, O3, and N2 between 90 and 110 km obtained by a rocket‐borne mass spectrometer flown during the Aladdin 74 program provide an opportunity to test directly the simple atmospheric chemical model first proposed more than 50 years ago by S. Chapman, which is today the core of the complex chemistry controlling stratospheric O3. The Aladdin 74 O3 results are found to be significantly in excess of model abundances computed using the most current values of the key chemical parameters. The calculations may possibly be in error due to uncertainties in these key parameters and/or in the measurement of the related species. However, the extra O3 may be a consequence of reactions between ground state O2 and electronically excited O2 resulting from the recombination of atomic O.

The influence of photochemistry on gravity waves in the middle atmosphere

“…The main results of the model are similar to those of Allen's model (Allen et al, 1984). However, according to recent investigations (e.g., Allen, 1986;Clancy et al, 1987;Strobel et al, 1987;Allen and Delitsky, 1991) in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, there is great discrepancy between models and observations of the oxygen compounds. In order to make the results realistic, in the calculation of the gravity wave growth rate, the background ozone and atomic oxygen profiles are taken from observational results (Thomas et al, 1983;Llewellyn et al, 1996).…”

Reactive scattering of highly vibrationally excited oxygen molecules: Ozone formation?

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] A good example is an improved understanding of the ''ozone deficit'' problem, 2,[20][21][22][23] where there are significant discrepancies between observed and predicted ozone concentrations. In the course of experimental studies on the O 2 (X 3 ⌺ g Ϫ ,)ϩO 2 (X 3 ⌺ g Ϫ ,ϭ0) vibrational relaxation problem done by Wodtke's group, it has been found that vibrational quenching rate constants of O 2 rise to surprisingly high values above у25.…”

The O2(b1Σ) dayglow emissions: application to middle and upper atmosphere remote sensing1This article is part of a Special issue that honours the work of Dr. Donald M. Hunten FRSC who passed away in December 2010 after a very illustrious career.

“…The empirical formulation that includes O quenching in the fit is used here. Figure [37] under the same conditions. As revealed in Fig.…”