Open AccessNO y partitioning and budget and its correlation with N 2 O in the Arctic vortex and in summer midlatitudes in 1997
Author(s) -
Wetzel G.,
Oelhaf H.,
Ruhnke R.,
FriedlVallon F.,
Kleinert A.,
Kouker W.,
Maucher G.,
Reddmann T.,
Seefeldner M.,
Stowasser M.,
Trieschmann O.,
von Clarmann T.,
Fischer H.
Publication year - 2002
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 - 10.1029/2001jd000916
Subject(s) - middle latitudes , polar vortex , stratosphere , atmospheric sounding , atmospheric sciences , arctic , vortex , air mass (solar energy) , mixing ratio , chemical transport model , atmosphere (unit) , depth sounding , nitrogen , environmental science , climatology , physics , geology , troposphere , meteorology , oceanography , boundary layer , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
Vertical profiles of the most important species of nocturnal total reactive nitrogen (NO y = NO 2 + HNO 3 + ClONO 2 + 2 N 2 O 5 + HO 2 NO 2 ) together with its source gas N 2 O were retrieved from infrared limb emission spectra measured by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding, Balloon‐borne version (MIPAS‐B) instrument inside the late winter arctic vortex from Kiruna (Sweden, 68°N) on 24 March 1997 and in summer midlatitudes from Gap (France, 44°N) on 2 July 1997. The measured data were compared to calculations performed with the three‐dimensional chemistry transport model (CTM) Karlsruhe Simulation model of the Middle Atmosphere (KASIMA). The results show that in the late winter arctic vortex most of the available nitrogen and chlorine is in the form of HNO 3 and ClONO 2 , respectively. An anomalous N 2 O‐NO y correlation observed in March 1997 appears to be caused to a large extent by quasi‐horizontal mixing of air masses across the vortex edge. However, near 20 km some denitrification of ∼1.5 to 2 ppbv NO y could be observed. The N 2 O profile measured in July 1997 indicates remnants of polar vortex air and is not reproduced by the CTM at the same location. However, the profile shapes of the individual compounds of the NO y family as well as the NO x /NO y ratio are reproduced fairly well by the model.