Atmospheric lead transport removal processes

The distribution patterns shown in Fig. 11 can briefly be explained as follows. Stratospheric ozone formed by photochemical processes is transported in poleward direction by atmospheric motions. This circulation is particularly strong in winter and spring months when stratospheric air moves downward over polar regions. At the same time the lower stratosphere over the tropics is characterized by a slow updraft (Brewer, 1949). Thus, stratospheric dynamics lead to the accumulation of ozone rich air in the lower polar stratosphere. It should be recalled here that at this altitude 03 is a conservative property of the air. During the late spring and summer, especially, the stratospheric 03 reaches the troposphere first of all through the tropopause gaps. In the troposphere this species is removed from the air by various sinks, as this will be shown in the next section. 

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