Balloon borne observations of PSCs, Frost Point, ozone and nitric acid in the north polar vortex

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i008p00791· OSTI ID:5675009

Rosen, J M ^[1]; Oltmans, S J ^[2]; Evans, W F

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, (USA)
2. NOAA, Boulder, CO (USA)

A new balloon borne instrument called a backscattersonde has been used to study Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) at Alert, NWT (82{degree}N, 61.5{degree}W) during January and February of 1989. These measurements were supplemented with frost point, ozone and nitric acid vapor soundings. Type I PSCs were observed at temperatures and pressures generally consistent with present vapor pressure models of HNO{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O condensate, but some noticeable inconsistencies exist. It is suggested that these apparent problems, as well as some characteristic peculiarities in the PSC profiles, could be explained by the presence of two phases of the HNO{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O condensate.

• OSTI ID: 5675009
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:8; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIRSHIPS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BACKSCATTERING
BALLOONS
CHEMISTRY
CLOUDS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FLUIDS
FROST
GASES
HOLES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAYERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NITRIC ACID
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
POLAR REGIONS
SCATTERING
STRATOSPHERE
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR