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Low to middle tropospheric profiles and biosphere/troposphere fluxes of acidic gases in the summertime Canadian taigaWe report features of acidic gases in the troposphere from 9 to 5000 m altitude above ground over the Canadian taiga in the summer of 1990. The measurements were conducted at a 30-m meteorological tower and from the NASA Wallops Electra aircraft as part of the joint U.S.-Canadian Arctic Boundary Layer Expedition (ABLE) 3B Northern Wetland Studies (NOWES). We sampled air for acidic gases using the mist chamber collector coupled with subsequent analysis using ion chromatography. At the tower we collected samples at two heights during a 13-day period, including diurnal studies. Using eddy flux and profile data, we estimated the biosphere/troposphere fluxes of nitric, formic, and acetic acids and sulfur dioxide. For the organic acids, emissions from the taiga in the afternoon hours and deposition during the predawn morning hours were observed. The flux intensities alone were however not high enough to explain the observed changes in mixing ratios. The measured deposition fluxes of nitric acid were high enough to have a significant influence on its mixing ratio in the boundary layer. On three days we measured vertical profiles of nitric, formic, and acetic acids through the lower to midtroposphere. We found that the chemical composition of the troposphere was extremely heterogenous. Pronounced layers of polluted air were readily apparent from our measurements. Local photochemical production and episodic long-range transport of trace components, originating from biomass burning and possibly industrial emissions, appear to have a strong influence on the composition of the troposphere and biosphere/troposphere fluxes of acidic gases at this site.
Document ID
19950031276
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Klemm, O.
(Fraunhofer-Inst. fuer Atmospharische Umweltforschung Germany)
Talbot, R. W.
(Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH United States)
Fitzgerald, D. R.
(State Univ. of New York, Albany, NY, United States)
Klemm, K. I.
(Fraunhofer-Inst. fuer Atmospharische Umweltforschung Germany)
Lefer, B. L.
(Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 20, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: D1
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
95A62875
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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