Nitric acid partitioning in cirrus clouds: the role of aerosol particles and relative humidity

M. Krämer; C. Schiller; H. Ziereis; J. Ovarlez; H. Bunz

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00177.x

Nitric acid partitioning in cirrus clouds: the role of aerosol particles and relative humidity

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 58 (2006): Issue 2

By: M. Krämer, C. Schiller, H. Ziereis, J. Ovarlez and H. Bunz

Open Access

|Jan 2006

Abstract

Owing to the potential of cirrus clouds to vertically redistribute HNO₃ in the upper troposphere, the uptake of HNO₃ in ice particles is at the focus of recent research. Here, we investigate whether HNO₃ residing in freezing aerosol particles could be a relevant source of HNO₃ in ice clouds. To this end, model studies on the sensitivity of the uptake of HNO₃ in aerosol particles to temperature, relative humidity with respect to ice (RH_ice), particle composition and amount of available HNO₃ were performed. Combining the model results with the history of RHice during cirrus formation and comparison with field measurements indicates that at temperatures > 200 K a considerable part of the HNO₃ in ice may originate from freezing particles containing HNO₃.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00177.x | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889

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Language: English

Page range: 141 - 147

Submitted on: Feb 25, 2005

Accepted on: Nov 1, 2005

Published on: Jan 1, 2006

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2006 M. Krämer, C. Schiller, H. Ziereis, J. Ovarlez, H. Bunz, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 58 (2006): Issue 2