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Theoretical interpretation of N 2 O 5 measurements
Author(s) -
Toumi R.,
Pyle J. A.,
Webster C. R.,
May R. D.
Publication year - 1991
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 - 10.1029/90gl01319
Subject(s) - sunrise , meteorology , physics , atmospheric sciences
Recent measurements by Webster et al. [1990] have confirmed quantitatively the chemistry controlling the night‐time decay of NO 2 . Simple equations describing the night‐time behaviour of NO 2 and N 2 O 5 are presented here. With measurements of the night‐time ozone and NO 2 concentrations, these equations can be used to predict the amount of N 2 O 5 produced at any time during the night. In this way the N 2 O 5 night‐time emission measurement of Roscoe [1982], Kunde et al. [1988] and sunrise measurements of the ATMOS experiment [Rinsland et al., 1989] are all used to test theory. The measurements are found to be both self consistent and confirm our understanding of night‐time NO 2 conversion to N 2 O 5 . The variation of N 2 O 5 by a factor of two between measurements is found to be consistent with theory.