Abstract
Concerns that man-made brominecontaining halocarbons, in addition to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are helping destroy Earth's ozone layer intensified last week when a team of researchers reported that atmospheric levels of two such bromine compounds are on the rise. The researchers conducted several balloon experiments from 1980 to 1987 to measure the atmospheric abundance of Halon-1211 (CBrClF 2 ) and Halon-1301 (CBrF 3 ), which are used to extinguish fires. They found that atmospheric levels of these gases are increasing 12% and 5% per year, respectively. The concentration of CBrClF 2 is currently about 2 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) and that of CBrF3 is about 1.3 pptv, they found. These readings were made at altitudes of 10 to 15 km over southern France (44° N) and south central India (17.5° N). Scientists are concerned because CBrClF 2 and CBrF 3 are important sources of bromine oxides, which can deplete ozone more efficiently than chlorine oxides. Moreover, bromine monoxide (BrO) and chlorine m...
Published Version
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