Possible role of electric forces in bromine activation during polar boundary layer ozone depletion and aerosol formation events

Electrical charging of snow and ice in polar regions and the potential impact on atmospheric chemistry

“…Since ice acts as a proton semiconductor, 59,60,63 it can conduct electric current. Tkachenko 36 considered frost flowers (Fig. 5) as grounded conductors and evaluated E at their tips.…”

“…This can be important if the redistributed ion enters, for example, an electric field sufficient for a corona discharge. 36 As a result, the supply of various ions to the reaction zone proceeds at different rates. If the products of these reactions initiated by corona discharges trigger other free radical processes like the formation of reactive halogen species, the changes in the composition of the atmosphere above the snow can be significant.…”

“…This disintegration process continues until the formation of molecular ions. Sharp grounded objects like frost flowers concentrate electric field on their tips and, so they can act like emitters in electrospray mass spectrometry 36 (Fig. 7) potentially leading to the direct transfer of bromine or iodine ions from the condensed to the gas phase with the following initiation of ozone depletion.…”

“…Ten years later, Shavlov et al 34 observed an acceleration of the corrosion of metal caused by ice growth processes. Finally, Tkachenko and Kozachkov 35 hypothesized that tribo-electrication of snow during blizzards can lead to corona discharges with following free radical reactions, while Tkachenko 36,37 pointed out that sharp tips of grounded ice structures can accumulate signicant electrical charges possibly leading to the emission of reactive bromine. Here, we review potential processes leading to ice surface charging depending on meteorological conditions like temperature and wind speed.…”

Electric Phenomena as a Possible Driver of Polar Snow-air Interactions: Does this Factor Act Synergistically with Photoinduced Effects?

“…The author's hypothesis [13] can also explain other inconsistencies -the poor reproducibility of ODE, the initiation of which can be stimulated by different conditions and various substrates. The author suggested that the "clue" to determining [13] the possibility of the process starting is whether or not the electric field strength at the ice tips exceeds the threshold value. It is the result of the combined effects of various environmental conditions.…”