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The observation of nitric acid-containing particles in the tropical lower stratosphere
1Aeronomy Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
3NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
4Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
5Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
6Atmospheric Research Project, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
7MayComm Instruments, San Dimas, CA 91773, USA
8Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
9Department of Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
10Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
11Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
*now at: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
Abstract. Airborne in situ measurements over the eastern Pacific Ocean in January 2004 have revealed a new category of nitric acid (HNO3)-containing particles in the tropical lower stratosphere. These particles are most likely composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT). They were intermittently observed in a narrow layer above the tropopause (18±0.1 km) and over a broad geographic extent (>1100 km). In contrast to the background liquid sulfate aerosol, these particles are solid, much larger (1.7–4.7 µm vs. 0.1 µm in diameter), and significantly less abundant (<10-4 cm-3 vs. 10 cm-3). Microphysical trajectory models suggest that the NAT particles grow over a 6–14 day period in supersaturated air that remains close to the tropical tropopause and might be a common feature in the tropics. The small number density of these particles implies a highly selective or slow nucleation process. Understanding the formation of solid NAT particles in the tropics could improve our understanding of stratospheric nucleation processes and, therefore, dehydration and denitrification.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 897 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 4 Comments) Final Revised Paper (ACP)
Citation: Popp, P. J., Marcy, T. P., Jensen, E. J., Kärcher, B., Fahey, D. W., Gao, R. S., Thompson, T. L., Rosenlof, K. H., Richard, E. C., Herman, R. L., Weinstock, E. M., Smith, J. B., May, R. D., Vömel, H., Wilson, J. C., Heymsfield, A. J., Mahoney, M. J., and Thompson, A. M.: The observation of nitric acid-containing particles in the tropical lower stratosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 5, 10097-10124, 2005. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
