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Nitric acid in polar stratospheric clouds: Similar temperature of nitric acid condensation and cloud formation

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)
;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)
  2. San Jose State Univ., CA (USA)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)
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As shown independently by two different techniques, nitric acid aerosols and polar stratospheric clouds both form below similar threshold temperatures. This supports the idea that the polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particles involved in chlorine activation and ozone depletion in the winter polar stratosphere are composed of nitric acid. One technique used to show this is inertial impaction of nitric acid aerosols using an ER-2 aircraft; the other method is remote sensing of PSCs by the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM II) satellite borne optical sensor. Both procedures were in operation during the Arctic Airborne Stratospheric Expedition in 1989, and the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment in 1987. Analysis of Arctic particles gathered in situ indicates the presence of nitric acid below a first appearance temperature T{sub fa} = 202 K. This is the same highest temperature at which PSCs are seen by the SAM II satellite. In comparison, a first appearance temperature T{sub fa} = 198 K was found for the Antarctic samples.

OSTI ID:
5468880
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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Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIRCRAFT
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CLOUDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORRELATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EVALUATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAYERS
LOSSES
NITRIC ACID
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
POLAR REGIONS
SATELLITES
STRATOSPHERE
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VAPOR CONDENSATION