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The Role of the Dipole Interaction of Molecules with Charged Particles in the Polar Stratosphere



Author(s)

Yury Belikov and Sergey Nikolayshvili

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DOI:10.17265/2159-581X/2016.03.001

Our analysis of published results of experiments in the Polar Regions substantiates and further develops our new approach to the photochemical processes in the polar stratosphere involving the charged particles. The dipole interaction of molecules with charged particles, primarily with ions, leads to the adhesion and disintegration of a number of molecules including ozone. Molecules acquire additional energy on the surface of the charged particles, enabling reactions that are not possible in space. Galactic cosmic rays are the main source of ions in the polar stratosphere, their equilibrium concentration at altitudes of 15 to 25 km can reach up ~(1-5) × 10³ ions/cm³. Estimations show that if the ozone destruction in the regime of “collision” with ions then the lifetime of ozone will vary from 10 days to 2 months. We suppose that alongside with the chlorine mechanism of ozone destruction there is a mechanism of ozone decay on a charged particle which can act also at those latitudes and altitudes where chlorine oxide ClO is absent, as well as in the night conditions. Here, we demonstrated the close connection of photochemical processes with the dynamic, electrical and condensational phenomena in the stratosphere, in particular, with the accumulation of unipolar charged particles on the upper and lower boundaries of the polar stratospheric clouds and aerosol layers as a result of the activity of the global electric circuit.

Polar stratosphere, ozone, charged particles, dipole interaction, global electric circuit, photochemistry.