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Van Der Waals molecules ‐ Possible roles in the atmosphere
Author(s) -
Calo Joseph M.,
Narcisi Rocco S.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i005p00289
Subject(s) - van der waals force , molecule , atmosphere (unit) , ionic bonding , van der waals strain , chemistry , infrared , atmospheric chemistry , absorption (acoustics) , physics , van der waals radius , ion , thermodynamics , ozone , organic chemistry , acoustics , optics
Atmospheric equilibrium number densities are estimated for the van der Waals molecules N 2 · N 2 , N 2 · O 2 , O 2 · O 2 , N 2 · CO 2 , O 2 · CO 2 , N 2 · H 2 O, O 2 · H 2 O, CO 2 · CO 2 , H 2 O · H 2 O, A · A, A · CO 2 and A · H 2 O for the altitude range 5‐90 km. It is concluded that number densities of atmospheric dimer species are appropriately given by equilibrium estimates, and that some are of the same order as minor, rather than trace constituents. Possible roles of van der Waals molecules in neutral and ionic ‘termolecular’ reactions, as well as infrared absorption and emission in the natural atmosphere, are proposed and examined.