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Hydrogen chloride and aerosol ground cloud characteristics resulting from Space Shuttle launchesAirborne measurements of gaseous HCl, gaseous and aerosol HCl, particulates, relative humidity and temperature were obtained in ground clouds produced during three Space Shuttle launches. Partitioning of HCl between HCl aerosol and gaseous HCl was investigated as the solid rocket exhaust cloud diluted with ambient air to evaluate the conditions under which aerosol formation occurs in the troposphere in the presence of hygroscopic HCl vapor. Equilibrium predictions for aqueous HCl aerosol formation generally agree with the measured HCl partitioning over HCl concentrations from 0.5 to 36 ppm. HCl concentration dispersion within four cloud segments at time t (min) was evaluated using the expression C = C(0) (t to the alpha power) where C(0) varied from 145 to 2250 ppm and alpha varied from -1.14 to -1.73. Aerosol fallout from the exhaust clouds was measured with time by monitoring HCl concentrations and aerosol distributions 100 m below the cloud as it drifted away from the launch site. Significant amounts of HCl were found to be removed by fallout of particles in the 80-220 micron diameter range up to 30 min after launch.
Document ID
19840054434
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sebacher, D. I.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Cofer, W. R., III
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Woods, D. C.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Maddrea, G. L., Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Sciences Div., Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Atmospheric Environment
Volume: 18
Issue: 4, 19
ISSN: 0004-6981
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Accession Number
84A37221
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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