Balloon-borne measurements of total reactive nitrogen, nitric acid, and aerosol in the cold Arctic stratosphere

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i004p00437· OSTI ID:5397331

Kondo, Y; Iwasaka, Y; Iwata, A ^[1]; Aimedieu, P ^[2]; Matthews, W A; Johnston, P V ^[3]; Fahey, D W ^[4]; Murcray, D G ^[5]; Hofmann, D J ^[6]; Sheldon, W R ^[7]

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1. Nagoya Univ. (Japan)
2. CNRS (France)
3. DSIR (New Zealand)
4. NOAA, Boulder, CO (USA)
5. Univ. of Denver, CO (USA)
6. Univ. of Wyoming (USA)
7. Univ. of Houston, TX (USA)

Total reactive nitrogen (NO{sub y}) between 15 and 29 km was measured for the first time on board a balloon within the Arctic cold vortex. Observations of HNO{sub 3}, aerosol, and ozone were made by instruments on the same balloon gondola which was launched from Esrange, Sweden (68{degree}N, 20{degree}E) on January 23, 1989. The NO{sub y} mixing ratio was observed to increase very rapidly from 6 ppbv at 18 km altitude to a maximum of 21 ppbv at 21 km, forming a sharp layer with a thickness of about 2 km. A minimum in the NO{sub y} mixing ratio of 5 ppbv was found at 27 km. The measured HNO{sub 3} profile shows broad similarities to that of NO{sub y}. This observation, together with the observed very low column amount of NO{sub 2}, shows that NO{sub x} had been almost totally converted to HNO{sub 3}, and that NO{sub y} was composed mainly of HNO{sub 3}. The enhanced aerosol concentration between 19 and 22 km suggests that the maximum abundance of HNO{sub 3} trapped in the form of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) was about 6 ppbv at 21 km. The sampled air parcels were highly supersaturated with respect to NAT. Although extensive denitrification throughout the stratosphere did not prevail, and indication of denitrification was found at altitudes of 27 and 22 km, and between 18 and 15 km.

• OSTI ID: 5397331
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 17:4; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
AIRSHIPS
ALTITUDE
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BALLOONS
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NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLAR REGIONS
SATURATION
SOLS
STRATIFICATION
STRATOSPHERE
VORTICES