Abstract
Ozone, chlorine monoxide, methane, and submicron particulate concentrations were measured in the stratospheric plume wake of a Delta II rocket powered by a combination of solid (NH4ClO4/Al) and liquid (LOX/kerosene) propulsion systems. We apply a simple kinetics model describing the main features of gas-phase chlorine reactions in solid propellant exhaust plumes to derive the abundance of total reactive chlorine in the plume and estimate the associated cumulative ozone loss. Measured ozone loss during two plume encounters (12 and 39 minutes after launch) exceeded the estimate by about a factor of about two. Insofar as only the most significant gas-phase chlorine reactions are included in the calculation, these results suggest that additional plume wake chemical processes or emissions other than reactive chlorine from the Delta II propulsion system affect ozone levels in the plume.
Recommended Citation
M. N. Ross and D. W. Toohey and W. T. Rawlins and E. C. Richard and K. K. Kelly and A. F. Tuck and M. H. Proffitt and D. E. Hagen and A. R. Hopkins and P. D. Whitefield and J. R. Benbrook and W. R. Sheldon, "Observation of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion associated with Delta II Rocket Emissions," Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 27, no. 15, pp. 2209 - 2212, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Aug 2000.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL011159
Department(s)
Physics
Second Department
Chemistry
Keywords and Phrases
Ozone Depletion; Space Technology; Exhaust Gases; Liquid Propellants; Methane; Ozone Layer; Solid Propellants; Chlorine; Gas Emissions; Gases; Ozone Layer; Propulsion; Rockets; Solid Propellants; Wakes; Rocket Emissions; Stratospheric Ozone Depletion; Propulsion systems
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0094-8276
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2000 American Geophysical Union (AGU), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Aug 2000
