Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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10.5194/acpd-8-14145-2008
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/14145/2008/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/14145/2008/acpd-8-14145-2008.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/14145/2008/acpd-8-14145-2008.pdf
14145
14168
2008-07-23
Detection of reactive nitrogen containing particles in the tropopause region – evidence for a tropical nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) belt
C. Voigt
christiane.voigt@dlr.de
H. Schlager
A. Roiger
A. Stenke
M. de Reus
S. Borrmann
E. Jensen
C. Schiller
P. Konopka
N. Sitnikov
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Universität Mainz, Germany
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Abteilung Wolkenphysik, Mainz, Germany
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
Institut für Chemie und Dynamik der Geosphäre, FZ Jülich, Germany
Central Aerological Observatory, Moscow, Soviet Union
The detection of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT, HNO<sub>3</sub>×3H<sub>2</sub>O)
particles in the tropical transition layer (TTL) harmonizes our understanding
of polar stratospheric cloud formation. Large reactive nitrogen (NO<sub>y</sub>)
containing particles were observed on 8 August 2006 by instruments onboard
the high altitude research aircraft M55-Geophysica near and below the
tropical tropopause. The particles, most likely NAT, have diameters less than
6 μm and concentrations below 10<sup>−4</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>. The NAT particle
layer was repeatedly detected at altitudes between 15.1 and 17.5 km over
extended areas of 9.5 to 17.2° N and 1.5° W to 2.7° E
above the African continent. Satellite observations suggest that the NAT
particles could have nucleated on ice fed by convective activity. Once
nucleated, the NAT particles can slowly grow within the TTL for days, while
being transported over long distances. Their in-situ detection combined with
global model simulations of the NAT supersaturation near the tropical
tropopause indicate the potential for a tropical tropopause NAT particle
belt.
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