Measurements of condensation nuclei in the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition: Observations of particle production in the polar vortex

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i004p00361· OSTI ID:5398682

Wilson, J C; Stolzenburg, M R ^[1]; Clark, W E ^[2]; Loewenstein, M; Ferry, G V; Chan, K R ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Denver, CO (USA)
2. California Polytechnic State Univ., San Luis Obispo (USA)
3. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)

The ER-2 Condensation Nucleus Counter (ER-2 CNC) was operated in the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE) in January and February 1989. The ER-2 CNC measures the mixing ratio of particles, CN, with diameters from approximately 0.02 {mu}m to approximately 1 {mu}m. The spatial distribution of CN in the Arctic polar vortex was found to resemble that measured in the Antarctic in the Spring of 1987. The vertical profile of CN in the vortex was lowered by subsidence. At altitudes above the minimum in the CN mixing ratio profile, CN mixing ratios correlated negatively with that of N{sub 2}O, demonstrating new particle production. CN serve as nuclei in the formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC's) and the concentration of CN can affect PSC properties.

• OSTI ID: 5398682
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 17:4, Issue 4; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
STRATOSPHERE
NUCLEATION
AIRCRAFT
ALTITUDE
ANTARCTICA
ARCTIC REGIONS
CLOUDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
MIXING
NITROUS OXIDE
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICULATES
SULFATES
SYNTHESIS
VORTICES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EVALUATION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLAR REGIONS
SIZE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
540110*