Cited by 696Atmospheric chemistry and aerosolsAtmospheric Ozone and ClimateAtmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics

Evidence for Substantial Variations of Atmospheric Hydroxyl Radicals in the Past Two Decades

Prinn, R. G., Huang, J., Weiss, R. F., Cunnold, D. M., Fraser, P. J., Simmonds, P. G., McCulloch, A., Harth, C. +5 more·2001·Science

Abstract

The hydroxyl radical (OH) is the dominant oxidizing chemical in the atmosphere. It destroys most air pollutants and many gases involved in ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect. Global measurements of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH 3 CCl 3 , methyl chloroform) provide an accurate method for determining the global and hemispheric behavior of OH. Measurements show that CH 3 CCl 3 levels rose steadily from 1978 to reach a maximum in 1992 and then decreased rapidly to levels in 2000 that were lower than the levels when measurements began in 1978. Analysis of these observations shows that global OH levels were growing between 1978 and 1988, but the growth rate was decreasing at a rate of 0.23 ± 0.18% year −2 , so that OH levels began declining after 1988. Overall, the global average OH trend between 1978 and 2000 was −0.64 ± 0.60% year −1 . These variations imply important and unexpected gaps in current understanding of the capability of the atmosphere to cleanse itself.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1058673

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  • The modern O2-CH4 redox couple is a compelling disequilibrium biosignature because of the short kinetic lifetime (~10 years) of methane in Earth's atmosphere.

    “The modern O2-CH4 redox couple is widely believed to be a compelling disequilibrium biosignature because of the short kinetic lifetime (~10 years) of methane in Earth’s atmosphere (21, 22)”

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Authors
Prinn, R. G., Huang, J., Weiss, R. F., Cunnold, D. M., Fraser, P. J., Simmonds, P. G., McCulloch, A., Harth, C., Salameh, P., O'Doherty, S., Wang, R. H. J., Porter, L., & Miller, B. R.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography (US)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol 8S8 1TH, UK.
  • Bureau of Meteorology (AU)
Venue
Science
Published
2001-06-08
Volume
292
Issue
5523
Pages
1882-1888
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2115751232
Cited by
695
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 24
FWCI
27.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
Keywords
hydroxyl radicals, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, atmospheric oxidation capacity, ozone depletion, greenhouse effect, air pollutant removal, global atmospheric chemistry

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