Enhancement of N2O during the October–November 2003 solar proton events

• Main Authors: K. Semeniuk, T. von Clarmann, G. P. Stiller, M. López-Puertas, N. Glatthor, M. García-Comas, B. Funke, J. C. McConnell
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2008
• Subjects: Physics; QC1-999; Chemistry; QD1-999; polar night
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/6d4e990796ff41039570f05e2bb0df44

In this paper we present evidence of enhanced N 2 O concentrations in the upper stratosphere/lower mesosphere polar regions after the solar proton events that occurred during October–November 2003. The observations were performed by the MIPAS instrument on the Envisat satellite. Simulations performed using the Canadian Middle Atmospheric Model (CMAM) show that such enhancements are most likely produced by the reaction of N( 4 S) with NO 2 , both of which species are largely enhanced just after the solar proton events in the winter polar night.