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Significant concentrations of nitryl chloride observed in rural continental Europe associated with the influence of sea salt chloride and anthropogenic emissions
Author(s) -
Phillips G. J.,
Tang M. J.,
Thieser J.,
Brickwedde B.,
Schuster G.,
Bohn B.,
Lelieveld J.,
Crowley J. N.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2012gl051912
Subject(s) - sea salt , chloride , morning , mixing ratio , photodissociation , environmental chemistry , environmental science , ozone , atmospheric chemistry , salt (chemistry) , atmospheric sciences , chemistry , photochemistry , geology , aerosol , organic chemistry , medicine
We present the first measurements of nitryl chloride (ClNO 2 ) over continental Europe. Significant quantities of ClNO 2 , up to 800 pptv, were measured at a mountaintop field site in Hessen, southwest Germany. ClNO 2 was detected during the majority of nights between the 15th August and 16th September 2011, its largest mixing ratios being associated with air masses influenced by sea salt and anthropogenic NO x emissions. ClNO 2 persisted in measurable quantities until early afternoons on days with low photolysis frequencies. As a consequence, early morning production rates of Cl atoms could significantly exceed the production of OH via ozone photolysis, likely leading to increased O 3 production.