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In situ measurements of the ClO/HCl ratio: Heterogeneous processing on sulfate aerosols and polar stratospheric cloudsSimultaneous in situ measurements of stratospheric ClO and HCl have been made for the first time, during numerous flights of the ER-2 aircraft covering latitudes 24-90 deg N from October 1991 through March 1992. The ClO/HCl ratio is identified as a key indicator of heterogeneous processing both outside and within the Arctic polar vortex. For ClO mixing ratios below about 120 pptv, remarkably constant ClO/HCl values of about 15% characterize the lower stratosphere. The observed values are significantly higher than those derived from a 2-D model using either gas phase photochemistry alone (2%), or including heterogeneous sulfate chemistry (5-10%). During the Arctic early spring, after conversion of HCl into reactive chlorine has taken place, the vortex edge is poorly defined by ClO levels. Loss of HCl and its slow recovery following low-temperature polar heterogeneous chemistry distinguishes HCl as a new and unique dynamical tracer of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC)-processed air.
Document ID
19950044319
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Webster, C. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab. Cal. Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA, United States)
May, R. D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab. Cal. Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA, United States)
Toohey, D. W.
(Univ. of California, Irvine, CA United States)
Avallone, L. M.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Anderson, J. G.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Solomon, S.
(NOAA, Boulder, CO United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
November 19, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 20
Issue: 22
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Accession Number
95A75918
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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