Abstract

In this study, it is shown that during four Solar Proton Events (SPE), mostly of the Ground Level Event (GLE) type (May 1990, September and October 1989, and March 1989), inside the polar cap in the Arctic (or the Antarctic) short-term depletions were observed (up to 20%) in the ozone total content. These depletions or so-called ozone “miniholes” seem to be caused by energetic solar protons with energies of 150–300 MeV. For May 1990, the gas phase photochemical model includes only 1% ozone depletion compared with 18% observed at Barentsburg (Svalbard), and for none of the other events can homogeneous processes explain the observed depletion. The problem seems to be solved considering heterogeneous reactions in the presence of increased amounts of aerosol particles in the stratosphere which may be triggered by penetrating solar protons, or through an additional decrease of temperature, or through an increase of volume electric charge in the stratosphere (or even troposphere).

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