Gas phase destruction of tropospheric ozone

Although reaction with the earth's surface has been considered the major, if not the only, sink for tropospheric ozone, both theoretical considerations and field observation suggest that gas phase reactions are also a major sink. Field data obtained in a joint study by the University of North Carolina and Research Triangle Institute have shown that gas phase destruction of ozone takes place. The data have also given an indication of the magnitude of the process. Our measurements of the oxides of nitrogen and ozone and the simultaneous changes observed in their concentrations bear out the concept that the NOx-O3 reactions are a significant sink for ozone.