Impact of coupled perturbations of atmospheric trace gases on Earth's climate and ozone

Abstract

We have studied the effects on the ozone concentration and surface temperature, of perturbations in the atmospheric content of nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). The sensitivity study has been carried out with a radiative-convective-photochemical model. The doubling of carbon dioxide concentration has the effect of warming the troposphere and cooling the stratosphere. As a result of this cooling, the change of ozone columnar density produced by 10 ppb of chlorine amount to 9.3% as compared to -10.9% obtained without temperature feedback. Perturbation in nitrous oxide correspond to an increase in NOx of the stratosphere with consequent ozone reduction while doubling the methane concentration correspond to a slight increase in columnar density. The effect of the increased methane concentration in the stratosphere contributes to reduce the effect of CFC due to the enhanced formation of HCl. The perturbation of these two minor constituents appreciably increase the greenhouse effect to 2.30 from 1.67°, obtained when carbon dioxide alone is considered. © 1982 Birkhäuser Verlag.