Evidence is accumulating that reactive halogen species can have an important influence on the chemistry of the lower and the free troposphere. Chlorine atoms react faster with most hydrocarbons than OH does. Inorganic bromine and iodine can catalytically destroy tropospheric ozone and oxidise mercury. These reactions have been shown to be important in the polar troposphere during the springtime ozone depletion events, over salt lakes and in volcanic plumes. There is strong evidence that halogens play a spatially wider role in the marine boundary layer and free troposphere for ozone destruction, changes in the ratios of OH/HO2 and NO/NO2, destruction of methane, in the oxidation of mercury and in the formation of secondary aerosol. There are indications that both oceanic sources as well as the chemistry of halogens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) in the tropics are linked with potential implications not only for the photochemistry but also the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA).

We invite contributions in the following areas dealing with halogens on local, regional, and global scales:

- Model studies: Investigations of the chemical mechanisms leading to release, transformation and removal of reactive halogen species in the troposphere. Studies of consequences of the presence of reactive halogen species in the troposphere.

- Laboratory studies: Determination of gas- and aqueous-phase rate constants, Henry's law and uptake coefficients, UV/VIS spectra, and other properties of reactive halogen species.

- Field experiments and satellite studies: Measurements of inorganic (X, XO, HOX, XONO2, ..., X = Cl, Br, I) and organic (CH3Br, CHBr3, CH3I, RX, ...) reactive halogen species and their fluxes in the troposphere with in situ and remote sensing .techniques.

- All aspects of tropical tropospheric halogens and links to (O)VOCs: their chemistry, sources and sinks, and their impact on local, regional, and global scales. Contributions reporting results from recent major field campaigns such as Climate and Halogen Reactivity Tropical Experiment (CHARLEX), Tropical Ocean tRoposphere Experiment of Reactive halogen species and OVOCs (TORERO), and Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Layer (RHaMBLe) and SOLAS related activities are particularly encouraged.


This session is a contribution to the SOLAS/IGAC task "Halogens in the troposphere" (HitT).