The ability of the atmosphere of the atmosphere after prolonged studies

According to research, the Earth’s environment has strengthened its ability to remove air pollutants, including powerful climate-warming gas methane. Published In Nature communication,

Climate is considered as a success for understanding of climate science and atmospheric chemistry, the study of the self-cleaning capacity of the atmosphere focuses on determining the amount of its elusive driver, hydroxyl radical (OH), by Nobel ” Described the detergent “. Award winner Paul Crutzen.

By applying an advanced method to analyze two long -running measurements of air samples from New Zealand and Antarctica, dating back in the late 1980s, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) The research conducted by revealed an important tendency to the self of the atmosphere. -Cleansing capacity.

Research states that without the increasing cleaning capacity of hydroxyl, methane would have contributed even more to global warming.

Prolonged studies by NIWA scientists, researchers at Victoria University of Wellington, in association with GNS Science and Finland, have been strengthened by the atmosphere in the southern hemisphere since 1997.

The 33 -year scientific investigation focuses on the strongest oxidant, OH, and identified radiocarbon monoxide (¹⁴Co) as a reliable tragedy. The high form of carbon monoxide arises when cosmic rays hit the Earth’s atmosphere, its production rate is well understood, as well as removing it by OH.

The OH is highly reactive and very short -term, called niva atmospheric scientist Sylvia Nicole. “Oh is a small chemical scrub. Made of a hydrogen and an oxygen atom, with a free unpublished electron, it is formed in the atmosphere when the sun attacks the ozone in the presence of ultraviolet light water vapor.

“It reacts with harmful trace gases including carbon monoxide and methane in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, troposphere, which spreads to an average height of 11 km (36,000 ft) from the Earth’s surface.

“It was a major discovery in the 1970s that OH is produced in troposphere by reactions to allow OH to allow oxidation of gases such as carbon monoxide, methane and athen. It is an important role in cleaning the atmosphere.

The presence of OH is important to control the concentrations of some greenhouse gases, especially methane, nicole, with highly reactive hydroxyls that control the atmospheric lifespan of most gases. “Even though hydroxyl radicals appear in small amounts for a short time, they remove carbon monoxide and about 90% of methane in the air, so it is important to maintain air quality.”

Principal technician Gordon Bralesford, Niva, says, the dynamic nature of OH, with its very low concentrations, means that it is difficult to observe and determine it accurately, which have decades collecting air samples for decades Have spent

“Ultraviolet light affects hydroxyl production, so the level of this atmospheric cleaner leads to very large ups and downs on daily and annual basis. OH only is formed during the hours of daylight, which means that it is night time Nearly falls to zero, and is more prevalent in summer. “

Brillsford says that previous efforts to monitor the trends in OH have used the methyl chloroform, but to protect the ozone layer, it has been phased out under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which makes it impractical to use it .

“Traditional methods and models that predict hydroxyl’s abundance based on methyl chloroform and other similar industrial gases also produce conflicting projections of changes in hydroxyl levels and have its ability to clean the atmosphere. Therefore, we natural forms Used radiocarbon monoxide produced from (¹⁴Co), a tragedy whose production by cosmic rays we consider much better, allowing us to work on a trend in its expulsion rate by OH for a long time. ,

Brillsford says that in the late 1980s, quality data for recording from two remote Southern Hemisphere Monitoring Stations is obtained. “Regular and consistent measurements extending up to 33 years over two sites provide the first evidence for a long -term OH growth.

“New Zealand’s Windy Capital, Barring Head Atmospheric Research Station outside Wellington, is recognized for long -term monitoring of clean air internationally.

“Some 4,000 km (2,500 miles) south, Antarctica’s Ross -US arrival height heights is far from human contamination, in which air samples are being collected during the five months of every year. Both measurements are being collected. There are chains. The longest and most consistent records in the world for 14COs for change in atmospheric chemistry.

Several stages are required to process samples, called Principal Technician Rowena Moss, who has dedicated more than 10,000 hours to the project. “Large samples of air up to 1,000 liters were collected in gas cylinders, then cooled to remove dried, compressed, environment cum₂And focused on a subtle amount of carbon monoxide and its isotopes.

“These procedures are therefore so samples can be sent ¹⁴CO measurement by accelerating mass spectrometry in the radiocarbon-detection laboratory of GNS Science. Quality control is necessary in these different stages to determine the original air sample ¹⁴CO concentration. ,

Samples of two different observation stations have proved to be practical in the role of OH, Journal paper, atmospheric and climate scientist Dr. Olaf says the lead author of Morganster, whose work has increased the first developed “Chemistry-Jalvayu” model.

“New Zealand’s data 12% () 2%) shows annual reduction since 1997 ¹⁴CO measurement from Antarctica shows another larger 43% () 24%) drop, but only during the December-January period, the summer height of the Southern Hemisphere.

“These research findings suggest that the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere run by hydroxyl is getting stronger in recent decades. Conclusions confirm and support our models and confirm with those around the world who explain that tell OH is growing globally. “

Researchers investigated which procedures and atmospheric compounds bring changes in OH levels, identifying three main drivers of hydroxyl growth, and a driver reduces OH growth. “Increasing hydroxyl trends are mainly operated by motor vehicles, industrial combustion, electricity and nitrogen oxides produced by electricity.

“Hydroxyl stratospheric is also affected by ozone deficiency, and water vapor, which is growing under global warming, while the OH has an important offset due to methane, which is also growing quick Knowing these four factors to work for what can be lie, especially that growth can change well due to change in our activities. “

The increasing trend of OH in this study implies that methane emission rates have increased a large increase, which is estimated to be constant OH. “Or in a different way, methane would have contributed to global warming and even more it was not to strengthen this atmospheric cleaning capacity.

“All four factor-nitrogen oxide, ozone, global warming and methane-humid trends are displaying. Human activity is affecting the climate system to strengthen its oxidation power. These conclusions are affecting the climate system. Playing an important role in the system, the ability of hydroxide to clean the atmosphere and maintain air quality. “