Antarctic stratospheric ice crystals

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD094iD14p16449· OSTI ID:7129539

Goodman, J ^[1]; Toon, O B; Pueschel, R F; Snetsinger, K.G. Verma, S. ^[2]

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1. San Jose State Univ., CA (United States)
2. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States); TMA/Norcal, Richmond, CA (United States)

Ice crystals were replicated over the Palmer Peninsula at approximately 72{degree}S on six occasions during the 1987 Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment. The sampling altitude was between 12.5 and 18.5 km (45-65 thousand ft pressure altitude) with the temperature between 190 and 201 K. The atmosphere was subsaturated with respect to ice in all cases. The collected crystals were predominantly solid and hollow columns. The largest crystals were sampled at lower altitudes where the potential temperature was below 400 K. While the crystals were larger than anticipated, their low concentration results in a total surface area that is less than one tenth of the total aerosol surface area. The large ice crystals may play an important role in the observed stratospheric dehydration processes through sedimentation. Evidence of scavenging of submicron particles further suggests that the ice crystals may be effective in the removal of stratospheric chemicals.

• OSTI ID: 7129539
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 94:D14; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ICE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
STRATOSPHERE
CLOUDS
AEROSOLS
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
DEHYDRATION
OZONE LAYER
PARTICLE SIZE
SAMPLING
SHAPE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
LAYERS
POLAR REGIONS
SIZE
SOLS
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