Supercooling versus crystallization of nitric acid/water aerosols
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) have been implicated in Antarctic and Arctic ozone loss. These clouds are comprised of small particles (diameter {approximately}1 {mu}m) and play two essential roles in perturbing the chemistry of ozone during winter. First, PSCs promote heterogeneous reactions which activate chlorine. Second, PSCs permanently remove nitrogen oxides from the stratosphere due to particle sedimentation. Both PSC reactivity and denitrification depend on the particle phase and composition. In my talk, I will discuss laboratory modeling of PSCs. FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the phase and composition of nitric acid/water aerosols at temperatures from 190 to 229 K. Static aerosol samples were generated and probed spectroscopically for time periods of up to 100 minutes. For aerosols containing a molar ratio of 1:1 and 3:1 H{sub 2}O:HNO{sub 3}, extensive supercooling was observed with no crystallization in 100 minutes. However, aerosols containing a molar ratio of 2:1 H{sub 2}O:HNO{sub 3} crystallized readily to nitric acid dehydrate (NAD). The rate of NAD crystallization was found to increase with increasing temperature and will be discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 214620
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950801-; TRN: 96:000922-0089
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 210. national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Chicago, IL (United States), 20-25 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of 210th ACS national meeting. Part 1 and 2; PB: 1866 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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