Measurements of stratospheric gaseous nitric acid in the winter Arctic vortex using a novel rocket-borne mass spectrometric method

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i004p00433· OSTI ID:5456469

Schlager, H; Arnold, F ^[1]

---

1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Heidelberg (West Germany)

The altitude distribution of stratospheric gaseous nitric acid was measured on 30 January, 1989 at Esrange (68{degree}N, 20{degree}E; Northern Sweden) in a particularly cold stratosphere (lowest temperature 190 K) using a novel rocket-borne ACIMS (Active Chemical Ionization Spectrometry)-instrument. Within the coldest layer (18.5-22.6 km) gaseous nitric acid was found to be strongly depleted. Probably this depletion was caused by local nitric acid condensation leading to NAT (Nitric Acid Trihydrate) aerosols, which were still present in the same layer, and/or HNO{sub 3}-removal from that layer by sedimentation of HNO{sub 3}-containing aerosols. Threshold temperatures for nitric acid condensation of about 195-193 K (18,5 km) and 193 K (22.6 km) can be inferred from the present data being roughly consistent with theoretical model predictions.

• OSTI ID: 5456469
• 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

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
ALTITUDE
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
CLOUDS
COLLOIDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISPERSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EUROPE
GAS ANALYSIS
HYDRATES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LOW TEMPERATURE
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
NITRIC ACID
POLAR REGIONS
SCANDINAVIA
SOLS
SPECTROSCOPY
STRATOSPHERE
SWEDEN
SYNTHESIS
VAPOR CONDENSATION