Premium
Rapid growth of atmospheric cluster ions at the cold mesopause
Author(s) -
Arnold F.,
Joos W.
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i010p00763
Subject(s) - mesopause , ion , dissociation (chemistry) , cluster (spacecraft) , atmospheric sciences , polar , materials science , chemistry , mesosphere , physics , stratosphere , astronomy , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Composition measurements of proton hydrate ions at the cold summer polar mesopause conducted by use of an improved experimental method reducing cluster ion dissociation revealed the presence of ions more massive than observed previously. Time constants for ion hydration derived from the data decrease steeply with decreasing temperature becoming as low as about 2 seconds at the mesopause for temperatures around 130 K. This is interpreted as being due to the occurence of indirect ion hydration involving N 2 ‐association followed by CO 2 ‐ and H 2 O‐switching. Aeronomic implications are discussed.