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Hydrogen Radicals, Nitrogen Radicals, and the Production of O3 in the Upper TroposphereThe concentrations of the hydrogen radicals OH and HO2 in the middle and upper troposphere were measured simultaneously with those of NO, O3, CO, H2O, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons, and with the ultraviolet and visible radiation field. The data allow a direct examination of the processes that produce O3, in this region of the atmosphere. Comparison of the measured concentrations of OH and HO2 with calculations based on their production from water vapor, ozone, and methane demonstrate that these sources are insufficient to explain the observed radical concentrations in the upper troposphere. The photolysis of carbonyl and peroxide compounds transported to this region from the lower troposphere may provide the source of HO(x) required to sustain the measured abundances of these radical species. The mechanism by which NO affects the production of 03 is also illustrated by the measurements. In the upper tropospheric air masses sampled, the production rate for ozone (determined from the measured concentrations of HO2 and NO) is calculated to be about 1 part per billion by volume each day.This production rate is faster than previously thought and implies that anthropogenic activities that add NO to the upper troposphere, such as biomass burning and aviation, will lead to production of more 03 than expected.
Document ID
19990063986
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wennberg, P. O.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Hanisco, T. F.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Jaegle, L.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Jacob, D. J.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Hintsa, E. J.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Lanzendorf, E. J.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Anderson, J. G.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Gao, R.-S.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
Keim, E. R.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
Donnelly, S. G.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
DelNegro, L. A.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
Fahey, D. W.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
McKeen, S. A.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
Salawitch, R. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Webster, C. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
May, R. D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Herman, R. L.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Proffitt, M. H.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO United States)
Margitan, J. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Atlas, E. L.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 2, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 279
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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