Vapor pressures of solid hydrates of nitric acid: Implications for polar stratospheric clouds

Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.259.5091.71· OSTI ID:6919452

Worsnop, D R; Zahniser, M S ^[1]; Fox, L E; Wofsy, S C ^[2]

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1. Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
2. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)

Thermodynamic data are presented for hydrates of nitric acid: HNO[sub 3][center dot]H[sub 2]O, HNO[sub 3][center dot]2H[sub 2]O, HNO[sub 3][center dot]3H[sub 2]O, and a higher hydrate. Laboratory data indicate that nucleation and persistence of metastable HNO[sub 3][center dot]2H[sub 2]O may be favored in polar stratospheric clouds over the slightly more stable HNO[sub 3][center dot]3H[sub 2]O. Atmospheric observations indicate that some polar stratospheric clouds may be composed of HNO[sub 3][center dot]2H[sub 2]O and HNO[sub 3][center dot]3H[sub 2]O. Vapor transfer from HNO[sub 3][center dot]2H[sub 2]O to HNO[sub 3][center dot]3H[sub 2]O could be a key step in the sedimentation of HNO[sub 3], which plays an important role in the depletion of polar ozone.

• OSTI ID: 6919452
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 259:5091; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DENITRIFICATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAYERS
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE LAYER
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLAR REGIONS
REMOVAL
STRATOSPHERE
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VAPOR PRESSURE