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Tentative observation of stratospheric N 2 O 5
Author(s) -
Roscoe Howard K.
Publication year - 1982
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/gl009i008p00901
Subject(s) - stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , mixing ratio , environmental science , atmospheric chemistry , atmospheric composition , atmosphere (unit) , physics , meteorology , ozone
Models of stratospheric chemistry have long predicted the existence of N 2 O 5 in the stratosphere (1). A previously measured upper limit suggested that the lower stratosphere contained less than 1/10 of the N 2 O 5 predicted (2). This serious discrepancy had eroded faith in predictions of changes in stratospheric composition due to man's activities. These new observations of atmospheric emission at N 2 O 5 wavelengths suggest a mixing ratio of 1.1 ± 0.5 × 10 −9 between 30 and 40 km. This value is fully consistent with model predictions.