Isotopic fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (United States)
- Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)
An isotopic fractionation mechanism is proposed, based on photolytic destruction to explain the {sup 15}N/{sup 14}N and {sup 18}O/{sup 16}O fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and reconcile laboratory experiments with atmospheric observations. The theory predicts that (i) the isotopomers {sup 15}N{sup 14}N{sup 16}O and {sup 14}N{sup 15}N{sup 16}O have very different isotopic fractionations in the stratosphere, and (ii) laboratory photolysis experiments conducted at 205 nanometers should better simulate the observed isotopic fractionation of stratospheric N{sub 2}O. Modeling results indicate that there is no compelling reason to invoke a significant chemical source of N{sub 2}O in the middle atmosphere and that individual N{sub 2}O isotopomers might be useful tracers of stratospheric air parcel motion. 32 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 569485
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 278, Issue 5344; Other Information: PBD: 5 Dec 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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