Reactions of O(2¹D₂) with chlorofluoromethanes and CCl₄

Abstract

UPPER atmosphere reactions involving chlorofluoromethanes are of considerable current interest^1–6. It has been suggested that the diffusion of chlorofluoromethanes, from the troposphere into the stratosphere, where photochemical and reaction processes produce free chlorine atoms, could lead eventually to a depletion of ozone in the upper atmosphere^1,2, by way of the ClO_x cycle The work presented here was directed towards obtaining a more detailed understanding of the primary and secondary processes which take place in the photochemically initiated reaction between O₃ and the chlorofluoromethanes.