Measurements of the nitric acid to NO sub x ratio in the troposphere

Journal Article · Wed Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD07p10193· OSTI ID:5456850

Huebert, B J ^[1]; Vanbramer, S E ^[2]; Lebel, P J; Vay, S A ^[3]; Torres, A L ^[4]; Schiff, H I; Hastie, D ^[5]; Hubler, G; Carroll, M A ^[6]; Bradshaw, J D; Davis, D D; Rodgers, M O; Sandholm, S T; Dorris, S ^[7]; Ridley, B A ^[8]

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1. Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett (USA)
2. Colorado College, Colorado Springs (USA)
3. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)
4. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Island, VA (USA)
5. York Univ., North York, Ontario (Canada)
6. NOAA/ERL, Boulder, CO (USA)
7. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA)
8. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)

Nitric acid concentrations, measured by both teflon/nylon filter packs (FP) and the tungstic oxide denuder (DEN), are compared with the average NO{sub x} concentrations from laser-induced fluorescent and chemiluminescent methods. The HNO{sub 3}/NO{sub x} ratio based on filter packs ranged from 0.8 to 10.4, with a mean of 3.4. The DEN nitric acid concentrations produced ratios ranging from <0.3 to 9.8, with a mean of 2.6. Average marine ratios were larger than those from continental regions, in part due to continental anthropogenic sources of NO{sub x}. Although the authors collected very few boundary layer samples, their average ratios were smaller than those in the free troposphere, apparently because of the effect of dry surface removal of nitric acid. The nitric acid to NO{sub x} ratio was greatest when the NO{sub x}/NO{sub y} ratio was smallest, such that the nitrogen photochemistry was nearing completion.

• OSTI ID: 5456850
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:D7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
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HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
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NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
SPECTROSCOPY
TROPOSPHERE