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Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) Arctic stratospheric measurements of NO x during February and March 2004: Impact of intense solar flares
Author(s) -
Rinsland Curtis P.,
Boone Chris,
Nassar Ray,
Walker Kaley,
Bernath Peter,
McConnell John C.,
Chiou Linda
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2005gl022425
Subject(s) - stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , polar vortex , mixing ratio , environmental science , occultation , polar night , arctic , solar flare , atmospheric chemistry , climatology , ozone , physics , meteorology , geology , astrophysics , oceanography
Solar occultation measurements recorded in the Arctic by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) Fourier transform spectrometer show elevated volume mixing ratios of NO and NO 2 in the upper stratosphere from mid‐February to late March 2004. Mixing ratios of NO exceeded 1.3 ppmv (10 −6 parts per million by volume) during mid‐February and are higher than any values previously reported in the Arctic during late winter and early spring. The elevated NO x (NO + NO 2 ) mixing ratios likely resulted from particle emissions by intense solar flares that occurred the previous October and November followed by NO x production and downward transport to the upper stratospheric vortex where the elevated levels persisted due to the long lifetime of NO x during darkness in polar winter and early spring. The descent and the NO x decrease rates in the upper stratospheric vortex are estimated from an analysis of the time series. The measured descent rate is compared with previous observations and model predictions.