Ozone depletion over the polar caps caused by solar protons

Abstract

Energetic solar protons are a natural source of ozone depletion due to nitric oxides they produce in the earth's atmosphere. In March 1989, following a period of intense solar activity, the TOMS instrument aboard the Nimbus 7 satellite recorded very similar ozone losses over both polar caps for areas extending from 90° to 70°. Ozone depletions of 7.4 × 10 9 kg for the south polar cap and 8.0 × 10 9 kg for the north polar cap indicate the degree of symmetry over the polar caps.