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Nitric acid in polar stratospheric clouds: Similar temperature of nitric acid condensation and cloud formation
Author(s) -
Pueschel Rudolf F.,
Snetsinger Kenneth G.,
Hamill Patrick,
Goodman Jindra K.,
McCormick M. Patrick
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i004p00429
Subject(s) - nitric acid , stratosphere , ozone depletion , polar , atmospheric sciences , ozone , aerosol , environmental science , ozone layer , arctic , meteorology , chemistry , physics , geology , organic chemistry , astronomy , oceanography
As shown independently by two different techniques, nitric acid aerosols and polar stratospheric clouds both form below similar threshold temperatures. This supports the idea that the polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particles involved in chlorine activation and ozone depletion in the winter polar stratosphere are composed of nitric acid. One technique used to show this is inertial impaction of nitric acid aerosols using an ER‐2 aircraft; the other method is remote sensing of PSCs by the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM II) satellite borne optical sensor. Both procedures were in operation during the Arctic Airborne Stratospheric Expedition in 1989, and the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment in 1987. Analysis of Arctic particles gathered in situ indicates the presence of nitric acid below a “first appearance” temperature T fa = 202 K. This is the same highest temperature a at which PSCs are seen by the SAM II satellite. In comparison, a “first appearance” temperature T fa = 198 K was found for the Antarctic samples.