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Observations of nitric acid perturbations in the winter Arctic stratosphere: Evidence for PSC sedimentation

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Abstract

Gaseous nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogene fluoride (HF) have been measured in the winter Arctic stratosphere using balloon- and aircraft-based Ion Molecule Reaction Mass Spectrometry (IMRMS) instruments. Strong HNO3 perturbations were found in 1993 and 1995 which may indicate nitrification around 11-13 km and denitrification around 20 km altitude. Most likely these perturbations were caused by sedimentation of HNO3 containing aerosols followed by aerosol evaporation at lower altitudes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Postfach 10 39 80, D-69029, Heidelberg

    Frank Arnold, Veit Bürger, Klaus Gollinger, Michael Roncossek, Johannes Schneider & Stefan Spreng

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  1. Frank Arnold
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  2. Veit Bürger
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  3. Klaus Gollinger
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  4. Michael Roncossek
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  5. Johannes Schneider
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  6. Stefan Spreng
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Arnold, F., Bürger, V., Gollinger, K. et al. Observations of nitric acid perturbations in the winter Arctic stratosphere: Evidence for PSC sedimentation. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 30, 49–59 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006014003391

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