Stratospheric Bromine Chemistry: Insights from Computational Studies

Bromine-containing species are more effective in depletion of stratospheric ozone, on a per-atom basis, than chlorine-containing species. The major known reservoirs of inorganic bromine are Br, HOBr, BrO and BrONO₂. However, in-situ studies of inorganic bromine partitioning in the stratosphere have suggested missing bromine reservoirs. This work explores the possible formation of other reservoirs of bromine that may result from reactions, which arise due to the coupling of bromine oxide species with atmospheric radicals from the HO_x, ClO_x and BrO_x chemical families. Computational studies examine the structural and energetic properties of the resulting products from atmospheric coupling reactions, and the possible new atmospheric chemistry.