Premium
Measurements of total reactive nitrogen during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition
Author(s) -
Kawa S. R.,
Fahey D. W.,
Anderson L. C.,
Loewenstein M.,
Chan K. R.
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/gl017i004p00485
Subject(s) - stratosphere , polar , atmospheric sciences , polar vortex , arctic , environmental science , latitude , reactive nitrogen , the arctic , nitrogen , middle latitudes , vortex , climatology , geology , meteorology , oceanography , physics , geodesy , quantum mechanics , astronomy
Composite distributions of measured total reactive nitrogen (NO y ) from the NASA ER‐2 during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE) are presented. The observed features of these distributions are discussed in terms of the controlling dynamical, chemical, and microphysical processes. In the latitudinal profile from 58°N to within about 4° poleward of the polar vortex boundary, NO y conforms closely to predictions of NO y based on N 2 O measurements. The features of the distribution are apparently dynamically controlled. Poleward of 5° of latitude within the boundary, the average NO y decreases sharply and is significantly lower than that predicted from N 2 O. This feature is consistent with loss of NO y through sedimentation of particles containing NO y in polar stratospheric clouds. The observed loss is not as systematic as in the Antarctic, consistent with the observed differences in season and meteorological conditions between the two campaigns.