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Balloon observations of organic and inorganic chlorine in the stratosphere: the role of HClO4 production on sulfate aerosolsSimultaneous observations of stratospheric organic and inorganic chlorine were made in September 1993 out of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, using JPL balloon-borne MkIV interferometer. Between 15 and 20 km, a significant fraction (20-60%) of the inorganic chlorine could not be accounted for by the sum of measured HCl, ClONO2, and HOCl. Laboratory measurements of the reaction of ClO radicals on sulfuric acid solutions have indicated that, along with HCl, small amounts of perchloric acid, HClO4, were formed. Very little is known about the fate of HClO4 in the stratosphere and we use a photochemical box model to determine the impact of this new species on the partitioning of inorganic chlorine in the stratosphere. Assuming that HClO4 is photochemically stable, it is shown that in the enhanced aerosol loading conditions resulting from Mt. Pinatubo's eruption, HClO4 could represent a significant reservoir of chlorine in the lower stratosphere, sequestering up to 0.2 ppbv (or 50%) of the total inorganic chlorine at 16 km. The occurrence of this new species could bring to closure the inorganic chlorine budget deficiency made apparent by recent ER-2 aircraft in situ measurements of HCl.
Document ID
20040089737
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Jaegle, L.
(California Institute of Technology United States)
Yung, Y. L.
Toon, G. C.
Sen, B.
Blavier, J. F.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical research letters
Volume: 23
Issue: 14
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-413
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
unmanned
Flight Experiment
Balloon Flight
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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