Articles | Volume 18, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-4519-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-4519-2018
Research article
 | 
04 Apr 2018
Research article |  | 04 Apr 2018

Nucleation of nitric acid hydrates in polar stratospheric clouds by meteoric material

Alexander D. James, James S. A. Brooke, Thomas P. Mangan, Thomas F. Whale, John M. C. Plane, and Benjamin J. Murray

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Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Laboratory Studies | Altitude Range: Stratosphere | Science Focus: Chemistry (chemical composition and reactions)
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Cited articles

Bardeen, C. G., Toon, O. B., Jensen, E. J., Marsh, D. R., and Harvey, V. L.: Numerical simulations of the three-dimensional distribution of meteoric dust in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 113, D17202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009515, 2008. 
Beyer, K. D. and Hansen, A. R.: Phase diagram of the nitric acid/water system:? implications for polar stratospheric clouds, J. Phys. Chem. A, 106, 10275–10284, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp025535o, 2002. 
Biermann, U. M., Presper, T., Koop, T., Mößinger, J., Crutzen, P. J., and Peter, T.: The unsuitability of meteoritic and other nuclei for polar stratospheric cloud freezing, Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 1693–1696, https://doi.org/10.1029/96gl01577, 1996. 
Bogdan, A., Molina, M. J., Kulmala, M., MacKenzie, A. R., and Laaksonen, A.: Study of finely divided aqueous systems as an aid to understanding the formation mechanism of polar stratospheric clouds: Case of HNO3/H2O and H2SO4/H2O systems, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 108, 4302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002605, 2003. 
Brakebusch, M., Randall, C. E., Kinnison, D. E., Tilmes, S., Santee, M. L., and Manney, G. L.: Evaluation of Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model simulations of ozone during Arctic winter 2004–2005, J. Geophy. Res.-Atmos., 118, 2673–2688, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50226, 2013. 
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Short summary
Crystal nucleation in polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) has a direct impact on stratospheric chemistry and ozone. However, the mechanism of nucleation has been unclear for decades, limiting prediction of the response of ozone to atmospheric changes. We experimentally demonstrate that meteoric material can trigger nucleation heterogeneously and this can produce observed crystal concentrations in PSCs. This discovery paves the way to robust modelling of past and future trends in PSCs and ozone.
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