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Constraints on N 2 O sinks inferred from observed tracer correlations in the lower stratosphere
Author(s) -
Nevison C. D.,
Keim E. R.,
Solomon S.,
Fahey D. W.,
Elkins J. W.,
Loewenstein M.,
Podolske J. R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/1999gb900018
Subject(s) - stratosphere , tracer , sink (geography) , troposphere , trace gas , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , atmospheric chemistry , photodissociation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , ozone , meteorology , physics , photochemistry , nuclear physics , cartography , geography
Recent isotopic studies have suggested that the trace gas N 2 O has a missing stratospheric sink of potentially major significance. While these studies have raised interesting questions, the constraints on N 2 O photochemistry imposed by correlations between N 2 O, total reactive nitrogen, and other tracers measured in situ in the lower stratosphere also should be considered. Measured tracer correlations, when compared to the results of models using standard photochemistry, provide evidence in support of conventional N 2 O sinks. Stratospheric tracer correlations, however, cannot be used to preclude a new atmospheric source of N 2 O in the troposphere or to argue against an undiscovered stratospheric sink that contributes less than −20% of the total sink.