Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-496
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-496
21 Apr 2023
 | 21 Apr 2023
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Atmospheric impacts of chlorinated very short-lived substances over the recent past – Part 2: Impacts on ozone

Ewa M. Bednarz, Ryan Hossaini, and Martyn P. Chipperfield

Abstract. Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer remains an ongoing environmental issue, with increasing stratospheric chlorine from Very Short-Lived Substances (VSLS) recently emerging as a potential but uncertain threat to its future recovery. Here the impact of chlorinated VSLS on past ozone is quantified, for the first time. using the UM-UKCA chemistry-climate model. Model simulations show that between 2010–2019 Cl-VSLS reduced total column ozone by, on average, ~2–3 DU in the springtime high latitudes and by ~0.5–1 DU in the tropics, with up to 5–6 DU monthly and zonal mean Arctic ozone reductions simulated in the springs of 2011, 2014 and 2020. Cl-VSLS impacts during the recent cold Arctic winter of 2019/2020 are also quantified to have resulted in up to 6 % reduction of lower stratospheric ozone and ~6 DU ozone in total by the end of March. On the other hand, the simulations show that the inclusion of Cl-VSLS does not considerably modify the magnitude of the diagnosed recent ozone trends. We also estimate the ozone depletion potential of dichloromethane, the most abundant Cl-VSLS, at 0.0107. Our results thus illustrate a so-far modest but nonetheless non-negligible role of Cl-VSLS in contributing to stratospheric ozone budget over the recent past that if to continue could offset some of the gains achieved by the Montreal Protocol.

Ewa M. Bednarz et al.

Status: open (until 02 Jun 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse

Ewa M. Bednarz et al.

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Short summary
We quantify, for the first time, the time-varying impact of uncontrolled emissions of chlorinated very short-lived substances (Cl-VSLS) on stratospheric ozone using a state-of-the-art chemistry-climate model. We demonstrate that Cl-VSLS are already having a non-negligible impact on stratospheric ozone, including a 6 DU reduction of Artic ozone in the cold winter of 2019/20, and any so future growth in emissions will continue to offset some of the benefits of the Montreal Protocol.