Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Formation of model polar stratospheric cloud films

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL02635· OSTI ID:7065982

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the competitve growth of films representative of polar stratospheric clouds. These experiments show that either crystalline nitric acid trihydrate ([beta]-NAT) or amorphous films with H[sub 2]O:HNO[sub 3] ratios close to 3:1 formed at temperatures 3-7 K warmer than the ice frost point under stratospheric pressure conditions. In addition, with higher HNO[sub 3] pressures the authors observed nitric acid dihydrate (NAD) formation at temperatures warmer than ice formation. However, their experiments also show that NAD surfaces converted to [beta]-NAT upon exposure to stratospheric water pressures. Finally, the authors determined that the net uptake coefficient for HNO[sub 3] on [beta]-NAT is close to unity, whereas the net uptake coefficient for H[sub 2]O is much less. 13 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

OSTI ID:
7065982
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 19:24; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English