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Reactivity of stratospheric aerosols to small amounts of ammonia in the laboratory environment
Author(s) -
Hayes Dennis,
Snetsinger Kenneth,
Ferry Guy,
Oberbeck Verne,
Farlow Neil
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/gl007i011p00974
Subject(s) - sulfuric acid , ammonia , aerosol , sulfate , ammonium sulfate , environmental chemistry , sulfate aerosol , ammonium , environmental science , chemistry , atmospheric chemistry , inorganic chemistry , mineralogy , ozone , organic chemistry
Trace ammonia in laboratory air reacts easily with sulfuric acid aerosol samples to form crystalline ammonium sulfate. Using argon atmospheres, however, we have succeeded in protecting sampling surfaces from ammonia contamination. We find that atmospheric aerosols treated in this way contain only sulfuric acid. After an hour exposed to laboratory air, these same samples convert to ammonium sulfate. We are continuing to collect aerosol particles, using argon control, to determine if the absence of crystalline sulfate is common. But so far there is no evidence that aerosols are being neutralized by ammonia in the stratosphere.