Energetic particle-induced enhancements of stratospheric nitric acid

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL00914· OSTI ID:6795265

Aikin, A C ^[1]

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1. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States)

Inclusion of complete ion chemistry in the calculation of minor species production during energetic particle deposition events leads to significant enhancement in the calculated nitric acid concentration during precipitation. An ionization rate of 1.2[times]10[sup 3] cm[sup [minus]3] s[sup [minus]1] imposed for 1 day increases HNO[sub 3] from 3[times]10[sup 5] to 6[times]10[sup 7] cm[sup [minus]3] at 50 km. With an ionization rate of 600 cm[sup [minus]3] s[sup [minus]1], the maximum HNO[sub 3] is 3[times]10[sup 7] cm[sup [minus]3]. Calculations which neglect negative ions predict that nitric acid will fall during precipitation events. The decay time for converting HNO[sub 3] into odd nitrogen and hydrogen is more than 1 day for equinoctial periods at 70[degrees] latitude. Examination of nitric acid data should yield important information on the magnitude and frequency of charged particle events. 19 refs., 1 fig.

• OSTI ID: 6795265
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 21:10; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONIZATION
NITRIC ACID
STRATOSPHERE