The observation of nitric acid-containing particles in the tropical lower stratosphere
Links to Files
Collections
Author/Creator ORCID
Date
Type of Work
Department
Program
Citation of Original Publication
Popp, P. J., T. P. Marcy, E. J. Jensen, B. Kärcher, D. W. Fahey, R. S. Gao, T. L. Thompson, et al. “The Observation of Nitric Acid-Containing Particles in the Tropical Lower Stratosphere.” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 6, no. 3 (February 27, 2006): 601–11. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-601-2006.
Rights
This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
Public Domain
Public Domain
Subjects
Abstract
Airborne in situ measurements over the eastern Pacific Ocean in January 2004 have revealed a new category of nitric acid (HNO₃)-containing particles in the tropical lower stratosphere. These particles are most likely composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT). They were intermittently observed in a narrow layer above the tropopause (18±0.1 km) and over a broad geographic extent (>1100 km). In contrast to the background liquid sulfate aerosol, these particles are solid, much larger (1.7-4.7 µm vs. 0.1µm in diameter), and significantly less abundant (<10⁻⁴ cm⁻³ vs. 10 cm⁻³). Microphysical trajectory models suggest that the NAT particles grow over a 6-14 day period in supersaturated air that remains close to the tropical tropopause and might be a common feature in the tropics. The small number density of these particles implies a highly selective or slow nucleation process. Understanding the formation of solid NAT particles in the tropics could improve our understanding of stratospheric nucleation processes and, therefore, dehydration and denitrification.