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Nitric acid scavenging by mineral and biomass burning aerosols
Author(s) -
Tabazadeh A.,
Jacobson M. Z.,
Singh H. B.,
Toon O. B.,
Lin J. S.,
Chatfield R. B.,
Thakur A. N.,
Talbot R. W.,
Dibb J. E.
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1029/1998gl900062
Subject(s) - troposphere , environmental science , mineral dust , nitric acid , sink (geography) , biomass burning , aerosol , atmospheric sciences , environmental chemistry , geology , chemistry , geography , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , cartography
The abundance of gas phase nitric acid in the upper troposphere is overestimated by global chemistry‐transport models, especially during the spring and summer seasons. Recent aircraft data obtained over the central US show that mineral aerosols were abundant in the upper troposphere during spring. Chemical reactions on mineral dust may provide an important sink for nitric acid. In regions where the mineral dust abundance is low in the upper troposphere similar HNO 3 removal processes may occur on biomass burning aerosols. We propose that mineral and biomass burning aerosols may provide an important global sink for gas phase nitric acid, particularly during spring and summer when aerosol composition in the upper troposphere may be greatly affected by dust storms from east Asia or tropical biomass burning plumes.