New discoveries on ozone depletion

At www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/uoy-nsr011113.php … scientists at the universities of York and Leeds have made a significant discovery about what might be involved in the destruction of ozone – over the oceans. It involves ozone depleting iodide oxide observed in particular regions of ocean geography and derives from hypoiodous acid, a gas released from ocean water. The presence of iodine in the atmosphere is thought to arise from emissions of organic compounds from phytoplankton – microscopic marine plants. Iodine and bromine combine to destroy large amounts of ozone. The reaction of ozone with iodide at the sea surface is key as it may account for the observed phenomenon as seen over the oceans. The higher the amount of ozone the greater the amount of gaseous halogens – a sort of self regulatory mechanism.