Studies of Arctic Tropospheric Halogen Chemistry via Field Measurements and Modeling
Abstract
With surfaces covered by ice and snow, the polar regions are characterized by unique atmospheric photochemistry in the springtime, and with the rapid transformation and loss of sea ice in the Arctic, there is an urgent need to characterize these chemical interactions with the snow and sea ice surface. During the NASA Bromine, Ozone, and Mercury Experiment (BROMEX) in March 2012, we utilized chemical ionization mass spectrometry to measure the near-surface temporal variability of a variety of species (e.g., Br2, BrO, HOBr, Cl2, ClO, HO2NO2) characterized by unique photochemistry in the Arctic. To probe the roles of ozone, bromine, chlorine, and nitrogen chemistry during BROMEX, we use the one-dimensional model MISTRA with vertical mixing and aerosols described based on vertical profiles of potential temperature and size-resolved aerosol number concentrations measured aboard the Purdue University Airborne Laboratory for Atmospheric Research (ALAR) during BROMEX. Modeling is utilized to estimate the required Br2 and Cl2 fluxes necessary to explain observations, as well as examine the vertical extent of halogen chemistry. In particular, the near-surface (within 30 m) distribution of chlorine- and bromine-containing trace gases are investigated.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.C13A0654P
- Keywords:
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- 0365 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE Troposphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0368 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry;
- 0798 CRYOSPHERE Modeling;
- 0736 CRYOSPHERE Snow