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New cross sections for the absorption of near ultraviolet radiation by nitrous oxide (N 2 O)
Author(s) -
Johnston H. S.,
Selwyn G. S.
Publication year - 1975
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/gl002i012p00549
Subject(s) - nitrous oxide , photodissociation , troposphere , ultraviolet , absorption (acoustics) , atmospheric sciences , absorption spectroscopy , oxide , sink (geography) , radiation , nitrous acid , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , atomic physics , chemistry , photochemistry , optics , physics , environmental chemistry , inorganic chemistry , cartography , organic chemistry , metallurgy , geography
A re‐investigation of the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) agrees with previous results in the range 210 to 235 nm, but contrary to previous results it indicates a vanishingly small cross section above 260 nm. The absence of the relatively long wave length absorption implies a negligible rate of photolysis of nitrous oxide in the troposphere. These results plus the previously estimated atmospheric mean residence times of N 2 O indicate that there is a large, unknown tropospheric sink for nitrous oxide.