Articles | Volume 14, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-3017-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-3017-2014
Research article
 | 
26 Mar 2014
Research article |  | 26 Mar 2014

The very short-lived ozone depleting substance CHBr3 (bromoform): revised UV absorption spectrum, atmospheric lifetime and ozone depletion potential

D. K. Papanastasiou, S. A. McKeen, and J. B. Burkholder

Abstract. CHBr3 (bromoform) is a short-lived atmospheric trace compound that is primarily of natural origin and is a source of reactive bromine in both the troposphere and stratosphere. Estimating the overall atmospheric impact of CHBr3 and its transport to the stratosphere requires a thorough understanding of its atmospheric loss processes, which are primarily UV photolysis and reaction with the OH radical. In this study, UV absorption cross sections, σ (λ ,T), for CHBr3 were measured at wavelengths between 300 and 345 nm at temperatures between 260 and 330 K using cavity ring-down spectroscopy. The present results are compared with currently recommended values for use in atmospheric models, and the discrepancies are discussed. A parameterization of the CHBr3 UV spectrum for use in atmospheric models is developed, and illustrative photolysis rate calculations are presented to highlight the impact of the revised σ (λ, T) values on its calculated local lifetimes. For example, the photolysis rate in the tropical region obtained with the present spectral data is 10–15% lower (longer lifetime) than obtained using currently recommended cross section values. Seasonally dependent ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) for CHBr3 emitted in the Indian sub-continent were calculated to be 0.10, 0.34, 0.72, and 0.23 (winter, spring, summer, fall) using the semi-empirical relationship of Brioude et al. (2010).

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