Two-dimensional assessment of the impact of aircraft sulphur emissions on the stratospheric sulphate aerosol layer

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD00770· OSTI ID:6895850

Bekki, S; Pyle, J A ^[1]

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1. Cambridge Univ. (United Kingdom)

We have developed a two-dimensional sulphate aerosol model, which includes most of the important microphysical processes governing the formation and evoluion of stratospheric sulphate particles. Simulations of the background aerosol layer shows that important aerosol properties (surface area density, optically active particle concentration, mass mixing ratio) are strongly latitude dependent. This model is used to investigate whether sulphur aircraft emissions caused the 60 percent increase in large aerosol particles observed over the 1979-1990 time period. Results suggest that, although aircraft may represent a substantial source of sulphate below 20 km, the rise in air traffic is insufficient to account for the apparent trend in stratospheric aerosol particles. 44 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6895850
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SOLS
STRATOSPHERE
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WASTES