Actinometric measurements and theoretical calculations of j(O3)the rate of photolysis of ozone to O(¹D)

A new experimental technique measures j(O3‐O(¹D))the rate of solar photolysis of ozone to singlet oxygen atoms: O3 + hν → O2 + O(¹D). A flow actinometer carries dilute O3 in N2O into direct sunlight where the O(¹D) formed reacts with N2O to form NO which chemiluminescence detectswith a time resolution on the order of one minute. Measurements indicate a photolysis rate of 1.2 (± .2) × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ for a cloudless sky45° zenith angle0.345 cm ozone column and zero albedo. Ground level results (elevation 1.8 km) compare with theoretical calculations based on the UV actinic flux as a function of ozone column and solar zenith angle. Copyright 1979 by the American Geophysical Union.

Duke Scholars

Author William Chameides Earth and Climate Sciences