Renoxification of Nitric Acid in the Global Troposphere and in Snowpacks

University Of California-Irvine, Irvine CA

Investigators

Abstract

This project is investigating the heterogeneous chemistry of reactive nitrogen species at the air-water interface. Laboratory studies will be conducted to elucidate the elementary processes associated with the reaction of HNO3 with NO on various 'wet' solids, which are model components of dust particles in the atmosphere. The production of HONO and other reaction products will be measured. The reaction of HNO3 on ice surfaces with NO will also be investigated to determine if this could be the source of HONO that has recently been measured in the Arctic, which appears to be coming at least in part from the snowpack. The results could have significant implications for modeling the global production of nitrogen oxides and ozone.