Photochemistry of seasalt aerosol and halogen activation
Seasalt aerosol, which is mainly formed through bubble bursting, is a very important natural source of atomic chlorine and bromine in the troposphere. These halogens are best known to destroy ozone by intermediate halogen oxides, described in the atmospheric halogen cycles. The release of reactive halogens from seasalt aerosol can be described as follows: HOBr is transformed to molecular Br or BrCl, these gas phase molecules leave the aerosol 2 particle and are photolysed. By destruction of ozone halogen oxides like BrO and ClO are formed. BrO reacts with the atmospheric hydroperoxyl radical (HO ) to form 2 HOBr. HOBr is adsorbed by the seasalt aerosol and halogens are released again (“Bromine Explosion”).
Completed Projects (with main focus on this field)
| BMBF 07ATF38;6 | Teilprojekt des Forschungsverbundes REHATROP Frank Siekmann, Cornelius Zetzsch |
| DFG (ZE792/5-1) | Natural Halogenation Processes in the Environment Atmosphere and Soil (HALOPROC) Johannes Ofner, Natalja Balzer, Sergej Bleicher, Julian Wittmer, Cornelius Zetzsch |