Atmospheric measurements of peroxyacetyl nitrate and other organic nitrates at high latitudes: Possible sources and sinks
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States)
- San Jose State Univ. Foundation, Moffett Field, CA (United States)
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
- Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
- Max-Planck Institut fuer Chemie, Mainz (Germany)
Aircraft measurements of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and other important reactive nitrogen species were performed at high latitudes over North America and Greenland during July-August 1988, at all altitudes between 0 and 6 km as part of an Arctic Boundary Layer Expedition (ABLE 3A). Complementing these were measurements of C{sub 1} and C{sub 5} hydrocarbons, O{sub 3}, chemical tracers (C{sub 2}Cl{sub 4}, CO), and important meteorological parameters. PAN was found to be an important reactive nitrogen species in the free troposphere, with 95% of the mixing ratios of 100-700 ppt at 6 km and 0-50 ppt in the boundary layer. The free tropospheric PAN reservoir was present over the entire high-latitude region sampled. In the boundary layer, PAN mixing ratios were higher over land than over the North Pacific Ocean. Significant levels of PAN were measured with stratospheric intrusions, forest fire plumes, and episodes of remote pollution. Other organic nitrates such as PPN and CH{sub 3}ONO{sub 2} were found to be a small fraction of PAN. PAN and O{sub 3} were strongly correlated both in their fine and gross structures, and the latitudinal distribution of PAN in the free troposphere followed that of O{sub 3}. A two dimensional global photochemical model is used to compare measurements and model results. Model simulations, correlations between reactive nitrogen species and anthropogenic tracers, and the composition of NO{sub y} itself support the view that the reactive nitrogen measured during ABLE 3A is predominantly of anthropogenic origin with a minor stratospheric component. Transported industrial pollution, biomass burning, and the unique seasonal dynamics of the Arctic/sub-Arctic region play a dominant role in defining this reactive nitrogen abundance. This PAN reservoir may contribute to the summertime maximum in deposited nitrate observed over Greenland. 45 refs., 16 figs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 96404
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 97, Issue D15; Other Information: PBD: 30 Oct 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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