University of York - A North-South chemical divide

A "Chemical equator" divides the polluted air of the Northern Hemisphere from the much cleaner atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere, researchers at the University of York have discovered. They found evidence of an atmospheric chemical equator about 50 km wide. Their findings are expected to help scientists model the movement of pollutants in the atmosphere more accurately and assess their impact on climate. The report, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, shows for the first time that the meteorological boundaries between the two air masses are not necessarily the same.