Open AccessIce particle growth in the presence of nitric oxide
Author(s) -
Peterson Harold,
Hallett John
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2011jd016986
Subject(s) - ice crystals , thunderstorm , supersaturation , crystal habit , atmospheric sciences , sea ice growth processes , crystal growth , mineralogy , meteorology , materials science , geology , climatology , cryosphere , chemistry , sea ice , crystallography , crystallization , sea ice thickness , physics , thermodynamics
An experimental study was undertaken to examine the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on ice crystal growth. This study focused on growth rates and ice crystal habit. A chamber was used to grow ice at controlled temperature and supersaturation, and images of ice crystals were obtained using a video camera. Ice crystals grow more quickly when NO concentrations are elevated above background to 370 and 710 ppb and lengthen (c‐axis growth) more quickly than they thicken (a‐axis growth). The results have implications for ice crystal growth in thunderstorms and may aid in determining whether an air parcel in a thunderstorm originated from an electrically active region.