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Wintertime nitric acid chemistry - Implications from three-dimensional model calculationsA three-dimensional simulation of the evolution of HNO3 has been run for the winter of 1979. Winds and temperatures are taken from a stratospheric data assimilation analysis, and the chemistry is based on Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) observations. The model is compared to LIMS observations to investigate the problem of 'missing' nitric acid chemistry in the winter hemisphere. Both the model and observations support the contention that a nitric acid source is needed outside of the polar vortex and north of the subtropics. Observations suggest that HNO3 is not dynamically controlled in middle latitudes. The model shows that given the time scales of conventional chemistry, dynamical control is expected. Therefore, an error exists in the conventional chemistry or additional processes are needed to bring the model and data into agreement. Since the polar vortex is dynamically isolated from the middle latitudes, and since the highest HNO3 values are observed in October and November, a source associated solely with polar stratospheric clouds cannot explain the deficiencies in the chemistry. The role of heterogeneous processes on background aerosols is reviewed in light of these results.
Document ID
19910034951
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rood, Richard B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kaye, Jack A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Douglass, Anne R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Allen, Dale J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Steenford, Stephen
(Applied Research Corp. Landover, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
November 15, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 47
ISSN: 0022-4928
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
91A19574
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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