January 15, 2013. Researchers from the universities of Leeds and York (UK) found that most of the observed over the ocean, iodine oxide (a substance that destroys ozone) Comes from a source that previously overlooked.
Scientists came to the conclusion that the latter may iodnovatistoy emissions acid (HOI) — gas, which, as previously thought, the ocean does not stand out — along with molecular iodine (I2).
Since the 1970's, when it became clear that the ocean is present everywhere, methyl iodide (CH3I), it was believed that iodine enters the atmosphere mainly as a result of the production of organic compounds by phytoplankton — microscopic marine plants.
New research based on an earlier, which showed that iodine (Along with bromine) is responsible for the destruction of the lower layers of the atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean huge amounts of ozone — around 50% more, than projected in the most advanced climate models.
Scientists have calculated the emissions of gaseous inorganic iodine on the results of laboratory experiments. It was found that the reaction of iodine with ozone leads to the formation not only of molecular iodine, but iodnovatistoy acid. At this reaction occurring on the surface of the sea, may account for about 75% of the observed level of iodine oxide over the Atlantic tropics.
Why the tropics? They dissolved in water is more than iodine and a relatively high temperature promotes the reaction.
Co-author of the study University of Leeds notes that the results emphasize the importance of removing ozone from the waste water in large coastal cities in the tropics.
According to from York University, is a kind of self-destruct mechanism of ozone: the more it more, the more active are destroying its gaseous halogens.
The study is published in the journal .
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