An invisible barrier separates the carbon-monoxide-rich air of South-East Asia from the pristine air of the Southern Ocean (Image: Hamilton et al./AGU)
Posted on 09/26/2008 4:15:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Scientists have discovered a "chemical equator" just north of Australia that divides polluted air from South-East Asia from the largely uncontaminated atmosphere of the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica... The polluted air of the northern hemisphere and the clearer air of the southern hemisphere tend not to mix. A mobile cloudy belt known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone that runs around the globe roughly at the level of the equator is thought to form a meteorological barrier between the two. But a team of researchers have found an additional barrier high up above the Western Pacific that prevents the pollution from forest fires in countries such as Thailand and Sumatra contaminating the pristine skies above the Southern Ocean... Levels of carbon monoxide -- a by-product of burning -- were four times higher to the north of the line than they were to the south... the shallow waters of the Western Pacific may help form the barrier. The surface waters are amongst the hottest in the world, fuelling strong storm systems... To the south, cyclones above Australia suck in pristine maritime air. The two systems do not mix, creating an invisible chemical barrier.
(Excerpt) Read more at environment.newscientist.com ...
An invisible barrier separates the carbon-monoxide-rich air of South-East Asia from the pristine air of the Southern Ocean (Image: Hamilton et al./AGU)
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · | ||
w00t! Earth heals thyself!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
