Free F2 and Cl2 in volcanic gases
thene...@my-deja.com
volcano in Vanuatu. In the article is written about free "chlorine gas"
and
"fluorine gas", which is in free state.
I was amazed, as these elements are very reactive and can therefore
not exist free in nature and therefore not in volganic gases.
Are possibly HF and HCl are meant ?
What are your opinions ?
klaas
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Before you buy.
nosp...@my-deja.com
thene...@my-deja.com wrote:
> In the National Geographic of November 2000 there is an article about
a
> volcano in Vanuatu. In the article is written about free "chlorine
gas"
> and
> "fluorine gas", which is in free state.
> I was amazed, as these elements are very reactive and can therefore
> not exist free in nature and therefore not in volganic gases.
> Are possibly HF and HCl are meant ?
> What are your opinions ?
Yes, you are correct to observe that what was meant was the release of
HF and HCl, rather than free chlorine. However, major volanic eruptions
can inject large amounts of HCl directly into the middle stratosphere,
which is very dry, where it can be photolyzed into free chlorine. Thus
ozone depletion due to natural causes has occured throughout natural
history because of the effect of volcanoes.
From:
http://sciencemaster.com/jump/earth/gases.php
"Types of volcanic gases
The most abundant gas released into the atmosphere from volcanic
systems is water vapor (H20), followed by carbon dioxide (C02) and
sulfur dioxide (S02). Volcanoes also release smaller amounts of others
gases, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide
(CO), hydrogen chloride (HCL), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and helium (He)."
[clip]
"Potential effects of volcanic gases
The volcanic gases that pose the greatest potential hazard to people,
animals, agriculture, and property are sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide,
and hydrogen fluoride. Locally, sulfur dioxide gas can lead to acid
rain and air pollution downwind from a volcano. Globally, large
explosive eruptions that inject a tremendous volume of sulfur aerosols
into the stratosphere can lead to lower surface temperatures and
promote depletion of the Earth's ozone layer."
This is an important point to understand. Ozone depletion due to
natural forces has been happening since the beginning of time, yet
ozone has always replenished itself by the effect of sunlight UV upon
stratospheric oxygen. Thus, the claims of the fragility of life on
earth, by ozone hole theorists are greatly exaggerated. Now you can
sleep at night.
R. Bailey
nosp...@my-deja.com wrote:
Quite true. The amount of ozone present in the stratosphere depends on the
balance between the rate of formation and the rate of destruction. Various
natural processes contribute to the rate of destruction, but there is
nothing to suggest that these have increased in recent years as they would
have to do if they are to explain the observed decrease in ozone content.
And it is, after all, changes that are important here.