Missing driver in the Sun–Earth connection from energetic electron precipitation impacts mesospheric ozone
Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2014 papers
Abstract
Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) from the Earth's outer radiation belt continuously affects the chemical composition of the polar mesosphere. EEP can contribute to catalytic ozone loss in the mesosphere through ionization and enhanced production of odd hydrogen. However, the long-term mesospheric ozone variability caused by EEP has not been quantified or confirmed to date. Here we show, using observations from three different satellite instruments, that EEP events strongly affect ozone at 60-80 km, leading to extremely large (up to 90%) short-term ozone depletion. This impact is comparable to that of large, but much less frequent, solar proton events. On solar cycle timescales, we find that EEP causes ozone variations of up to 34% at 70-80 km. With such a magnitude, it is reasonable to suspect that EEP could be an important part of solar influence on the atmosphere and climate system.
Related Papers
- → Impact of future nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions on the stratospheric ozone layer(2015)56 cited
- → Water vapour and ozone in the mesosphere as measured by UARS MLS(1997)24 cited
- → Energetic electron precipitation in the auroral zone and its influence on atomic oxygen in the mesosphere(1968)2 cited
- → The sensitivity of stratospheric ozone changes through the 21st century to N 2 O and CH 4(2012)2 cited
- Comparing Model Ozone Loss during the SOLVE and SOLVE-2 Winters(2003)