Large Impacts and Ozone Depletion

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

A recent article on the New Scientist website briefly reported that small 
volcanic eruptions can cause short-term ozone depletion. The study showed 
that nitric acid and water vapour in large concentrations can energise 
volcanic chlorine so that it reacts with ozone. 

It got me wondering: what sort of impact (pun intended) would a large bolide 
strike have on ozone depletion? Especially one that landed in the sea - 
would impact conditions liberate chlorine from sea water (and send it high 
enough to react with the ozone layer)? Or would resulting dust clouds 
effectively block out any additional cosmic rays that might find their way 
through depleted ozone? 

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10503-volcano-pierces-small-hole-in-oz 
one-layer.html 

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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://heretichides.soffiles.com
Melbourne, Australia        http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
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