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Effect of space rocket launches on ozone

1992; Copernicus Publications; Volume: 10; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

1432-0576

I. L. Karol, Y. E. Ozolin, Eugene Rozanov,

Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics

The exhaust plume produced by space rocket launches can contain chlorine and nitrogen compounds, which cause atmospheric ozone depletion. A system of atmospheric gas composition models is used for assessing the effects of Shuttle (USA) and Energy (USSR) rocket launches on the ozone layer. Two different scenarios of the exhaust gases are used for calculations of the ozone depletion on the local and global scales. Estimations of the local ozone concentration changes near the axis of the space rocket exhausts reveal that the ozone may be reduced by 10-100% for periods up to 4 h, depending on the rocket type and on the gas-release scenario. The total ozone decrease is less then 10%. Annually and globally averaged total ozone depletion due to the assumed 50 launches per year is less than 1%