Researchers from Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) of Hamad Bin Khalifa University have discovered a new chemical mechanism that removes atmospheric ozone from the surface of water droplets and seawater.
In collaboration with Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, the team has successfully demonstrated the formation of a bromine ion-ozone complex on the surface of water, a clear signature of an ozone depletion process involving aerosols, liquid droplets and seawater interfaces. This was made possible by combining the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments carried out at the Institute and advanced simulations at QEERI. The study was published in Nature Communications on September 26.
This study holds special value for coastal areas subject to intense pollution. As such, it can provide insights into the causes and intensity of the ozone cycle in Qatar.
Ivan Gladich, a scientist at QEERI and corresponding author for this research, said, “The facilities at QEERI enabled us to carry out the calculations and simulations necessary to support, endorse and, in some cases, also re-direct the experimental work undertaken in Switzerland. This research further shows that the combination of experimental and modelling approaches is a powerful and indispensable tool for analysing chemical processes. In particular, a combined approach is very important when treating problems involving interfaces of atmospheric and technological relevance, including aerosols, catalytic substrates and bio interfaces.”
Marcelo Carignano, a senior scientist at QEERI and a co-author, added: “This research will help with the interpretation of ozone interactions, and in turn, help large scale modellers gain a better understanding of weather pollution.”
