Tropospheric bromine monoxide (BrO)
introduction

• Support to Protocol monitoring
  • Global BrO columns

• Bromine monoxide

Bromine monoxide

The role of BrO has been highlighted first in the context of the stratospheric ozone layer problematic. Recent findings, however, have demonstrated that BrO is also produced with significant amounts in the troposphere where it can influence the chemistry of tropospheric ozone.

 
Although the mechanisms responsible for the production of inorganic bromine in the troposphere are currently not fully established, observations (mainly from the GOME instrument) clearly show that important emissions occur systematically during spring in polar regions of both hemispheres, most likely due to autocatalytic release from bromine containing sea-salt/ice aerosol. In addition to these polar emissions, which are responsible of massive ozone destruction in the boundary layer (the so-called "tropospheric ozone hole" phenomenon), BrO amounts at levels around 1-2 pptv have also been identified in the free troposphere where it might play an important -- yet unrecognized -- role in the tropospheric chemistry.

 
BrO column amounts are retrieved from GOME at the BIRA-IASB.