COSEE Ocean Systems: News
NASA Finds Sea Ice Driving Arctic Air Pollutants
Description: Reductions in Arctic sea ice in the last decade may be intensifying the chemical release of bromine into the atmosphere. This process is determined by the interaction between the salt in sea ice, frigid temperatures and sunlight. When these mix, the salty ice releases bromine into the air and starts a cascade of chemical reactions which create more molecules of bromine monoxide in the atmosphere. They then react with a gaseous form of mercury, turning it into a pollutant that falls to the Earth. [Source: NASA News]
URL: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-054
Availability: Full Text
Source: NASA News
Publish Date: 3/1/2012
Reading Level: Basic
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