Isotopic fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide

Journal Article · Fri Dec 05 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.278.5344.1778· OSTI ID:569485

Yung, Yuk L ^[1]; Miller, C L ^[2]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (United States)
2. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)

An isotopic fractionation mechanism is proposed, based on photolytic destruction to explain the {sup 15}N/{sup 14}N and {sup 18}O/{sup 16}O fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and reconcile laboratory experiments with atmospheric observations. The theory predicts that (i) the isotopomers {sup 15}N{sup 14}N{sup 16}O and {sup 14}N{sup 15}N{sup 16}O have very different isotopic fractionations in the stratosphere, and (ii) laboratory photolysis experiments conducted at 205 nanometers should better simulate the observed isotopic fractionation of stratospheric N{sub 2}O. Modeling results indicate that there is no compelling reason to invoke a significant chemical source of N{sub 2}O in the middle atmosphere and that individual N{sub 2}O isotopomers might be useful tracers of stratospheric air parcel motion. 32 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 569485
• Journal Information: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 5344 Vol. 278; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
FRACTIONATION
NITROUS OXIDE
PHOTOLYSIS
STRATOSPHERE