In:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Vol. 95, No. D4 ( 1990-03-20), p. 3493-3507
Abstract:
South polar firn cores spanning the last millennium have been analyzed to determine the nitrate background level of high‐latitude precipitation and its temporal variations. The resulting data reveal no evidence of a positive correlation between solar activity (11‐year solar cycle, low solar activity time periods, and solar proton events) and the NO 3 content of south polar snow. These data therefore suggest that NO x production in the upper stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere does not contribute significantly to the antarctic NO 3 budget. This study of the NO 3 content of high latitude precipitation suggests a major contribution by lightning (from a third to a half of the total) and by NO x produced in the lower stratosphere (approximately a third from N 2 O oxidation and to a lesser extent galactic cosmic rays) to the NO 3 budget of this background atmosphere, the remaining portion being related to the present NO x surface sources of the southern hemisphere. For the first time, our data point to a decrease of NO 3 content when very large amounts of sulfuric acid are present in South Pole snow layers. This observation suggests a possible interaction (via the hydroxyl radical) between S‐ and N‐derived species when large quantities of SO 2 are injected by volcanic eruptions. Although the deposition mechanism of HNO 3 in South Pole snow layers is far from well understood, our data suggest that only a minor amount of this compound is deposited directly on surface snow layers. Finally, the role played by particles (volcanic ash, terrestrial impurities, or ice particles) to enhance the uptake of odd nitrogen from the atmosphere by heteregeneous processes is discussed. In particular, it is suggested that in late winter, under certain meteorological conditions leading to ice particle formation, a significant uptake of HNO 3 from the lower stratosphere can occur.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0148-0227
DOI:
10.1029/JD095iD04p03493
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Publication Date:
1990
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