Asian Monsoon Lofts Ozone-Depleting Substances to Stratosphere

Airborne observations discover new link between pollution and climate

The study, led by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) and NASA, found that the East Asian Monsoon delivers more than twice the concentration of very short-lived ozone-depleting substances into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere than previously reported.

“It was a real surprise to fly through a plume with all those very short-lived ozone-depleting substances,” said NSF NCAR scientist Laura Pan, the lead author of the study. “These chemicals may have a significant impact on what will happen with the ozone layer, and it’s critical to quantify them.”

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Teaser summary

Powerful monsoon winds, strengthened by a warming climate, are lofting unexpectedly large quantities of ozone-depleting substances high into the atmosphere over East Asia, new research shows.