Open AccessSources of upper tropospheric HO X : A three‐dimensional study
Author(s) -
Müller JeanFrançois,
Brasseur Guy
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1998jd100005
Subject(s) - troposphere , atmospheric sciences , ozone , water vapor , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , tropospheric ozone , stratosphere , acetone , photochemistry , meteorology , chemistry , geology , physics , organic chemistry
The sources of odd hydrogen radicals (HO x = OH + HO 2 ) in the upper troposphere are investigated and quantified using a three‐dimensional model. While the reaction of O( 1 D ) with water vapor constitutes the single major source of HO x in the lower and middle troposphere, the model calculations suggest that acetone photooxidation represents a large, almost ubiquitous source of HO x in the upper troposphere (around 20–40% of the total primary source in the main aircraft corridors, poleward of 40°N), while the convective injections of peroxides and aldehydes are the dominant sources in the tropics, above the oceans and the continents, respectively. The consequences for ozone photochemical production in the upper troposphere are discussed, in particular, in the perspective of the aircraft impact. The role of acetone on ozone photochemical production is estimated and discussed. It is calculated that the presence of acetone might enhance by about 20% the sensitivity of upper tropospheric ozone to the current aircraft emissions of NO x .