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homogeneous freezing nucleation of stratospheric solution droplets
Author(s) -
Jensen Eric J.,
Toon Owen B.,
Hamill Patrick
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 - 10.1029/91gl01848
Subject(s) - nucleation , sulfuric acid , ice nucleus , homogeneous , aerosol , nitric acid , stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , materials science , chemical physics , chemistry , thermodynamics , inorganic chemistry , geology , physics , organic chemistry
We have used the classical theory of homogeneous nucleation to calculate the freezing rate of sulfuric acid solution aerosols under stratospheric conditions. The freezing of stratospheric aerosols would be important for the nucleation of nitric acid trihydrate particles in the Arctic and Antarctic stratospheres. In addition, the rate of heterogeneous chemical reactions on stratospheric aerosols may be very sensitive to their state. Our calculations indicate that homogeneous freezing nucleation of pure water ice in the stratospheric solution droplets would occur at temperatures below about 192 K. However, the physical properties of H 2 SO 4 solution at such low temperatures are not well known, and it is possible that sulfuric acid aerosols will freeze out at temperatures ranging from about 180–195 K. We also show that the temperature at which the aerosols freeze is nearly independent of their size.