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Impact of acetone (photo)oxidation on HO x production in the UT/LMS based on CARIBIC passenger aircraft observations and EMAC simulations
Author(s) -
Neumaier M.,
Ruhnke R.,
Kirner O.,
Ziereis H.,
Stratmann G.,
Brenninkmeijer C. A. M.,
Zahn A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl059480
Subject(s) - production (economics) , environmental science , acetone , atmospheric sciences , aerospace engineering , materials science , meteorology , physics , remote sensing , geology , chemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Until a decade ago, acetone was assumed to be a dominant HO x source in the dry extra‐tropical upper troposphere (ex‐UT). New photodissociation quantum yields of acetone and the lack of representative data from the ex‐UT challenged that assumption. Regular mass spectrometric observations onboard the Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container (CARIBIC) passenger aircraft deliver the first representative distribution of acetone in the UT/LMS (UT/lowermost stratosphere). Based on diverse CARIBIC trace gas data and non‐observed parameters taken from the model ECHAM5/MESSy for Atmospheric Chemistry, we quantify the HO x source in the UT/LMS from (photo)oxidation of acetone. The findings are contrasted to HO x production from ozone photolysis, overall the dominant tropospheric HO x source. It is shown that HO x production from acetone (photo)oxidation reaches up to 95% of the HO x source from ozone photolysis in autumn in the UT and on average ~61% in summer. That is, acetone is a significant source of HO x in the UT/LMS.