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The Tropospheric Cycle of NOX

  • Conference paper
Chemistry of the Unpolluted and Polluted Troposphere

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((ASIC,volume 96))

Abstract

The tropospheric chemistry, budget, and distribution of NOX are reviewed. For surface air, the chemistry of NOX can conveniently be separated into daytime and nighttime processes. During the day, NOX is removed mainly via NO2 + OH + M → HNO3 + M. During the night, some of the NO2 is converted first to NO3 then to N2O5, which can be removed by moist surfaces thereby forming dissolved NO3. Estimates indicate that this reaction mechanism taking place within nighttime fogs of clouds could remove NOX as efficiently as the daytime reaction with OH. The final sink for removal of NO from the atmosphere is predominately by NO3 deposition, mostly by rainout. A smaller fraction appears as dry deposition. The total NO3 deposition in 1964 is estimated to have been (24 ± 916) x 1O12 g N yr -1. The geographical pattern for the measured total deposition is also shown. The sources of NOX, both natural and man made, totaled (40 ± 20) x 1O12 g N yr -1. Its geographical distribution is also estimated. Existing measurements provide a vertical profile of NOX for continental midlatitudes; it appears to be dominated by anthropogenic sources.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemie III, Atmosphärische Chemie, Kernforschungsanlage Jülich, 5170, Jülich, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    D. H. Ehhalt & J. W. Drummond

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  1. D. H. Ehhalt
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  2. J. W. Drummond
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Frankfurt, Germany

    H. W. Georgii

  2. Center of Environmental Protection, University of Frankfurt, Germany

    W. Jaeschke

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Ehhalt, D.H., Drummond, J.W. (1982). The Tropospheric Cycle of NOX . In: Georgii, H.W., Jaeschke, W. (eds) Chemistry of the Unpolluted and Polluted Troposphere. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 96. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7918-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7918-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7920-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7918-5

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