Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1991 Nitrogen oxides play a critical role in tropospheric photochemistry. In order to characterize these compounds in the arctic troposphere, ground-level concentrations of total reactive nitrogen (NO$\sb{y}$) and NO were determined over an extend...
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1991
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/9324 2023-05-15T14:50:13+02:00 Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere Honrath, Richard Edward, Jr. Jaffe, Daniel A. Gosnick, Joan P. Stolzberg, Richard J. Stamnes, Knut Shaw, Glenn E. 1991 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9324 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9324 Chemistry Department Environmental science Physics Atmospheric Science Dissertation phd 1991 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:37:15Z Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1991 Nitrogen oxides play a critical role in tropospheric photochemistry. In order to characterize these compounds in the arctic troposphere, ground-level concentrations of total reactive nitrogen (NO$\sb{y}$) and NO were determined over an extended period at a site near Barrow, Alaska. A high-sensitivity instrument developed for this purpose was used in three measurement campaigns: summer 1988, spring 1989, and March-December 1990. During the 1990 campaign, the detection limit for NO was 3-10 pptv (depending on averaging period), and the NO$\sb{y}$ uncertainty was $\pm$26%. A screening algorithm was applied to the data to eliminate effects from local (Barrow) sources, and the remaining data were divided into "background periods" (unaffected by local or regional NO$\sb{x}$ sources), and "events" (periods when emissions from a regional NO$\sb{x}$ source--the Prudhoe Bay oil-producing region--apparently impacted Barrow). These measurements revealed a sharp seasonal cycle of background NO$\sb{y}$ concentrations, with high values in early spring (median 560-620 pptv) and $\sim$70 pptv (median) during summer. This cycle is similar to that of other compounds in arctic haze but is partially attributed to a reduction in NO$\sb{y}$ lifetime due to organic nitrate decomposition as temperatures and insolation increased. Evidence indicates that the springtime arctic NO$\sb{y}$ reservoir was primarily composed of stable removal-resistant species, including PAN and other organic nitrates. PAN decomposition as temperatures rose in late spring likely caused an observed pulse of NO to $\sim$35 pptv (maximum hourly average); hourly-average NO concentrations were otherwise generally $<$8 pptv. NO$\sb{x}$ production from PAN decomposition due to the onset of spring or southward advection may affect springtime O$\sb3$ levels both in the Arctic and in the northern mid-latitudes. NO$\sb{y}$ and O$\sb3$ concentrations were positively correlated during summer, possibly indicating ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Arctic Barrow Prudhoe Bay Alaska University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA Arctic Fairbanks |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
op_collection_id |
ftunivalaska |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Environmental science Physics Atmospheric Science |
spellingShingle |
Environmental science Physics Atmospheric Science Honrath, Richard Edward, Jr. Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
topic_facet |
Environmental science Physics Atmospheric Science |
description |
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1991 Nitrogen oxides play a critical role in tropospheric photochemistry. In order to characterize these compounds in the arctic troposphere, ground-level concentrations of total reactive nitrogen (NO$\sb{y}$) and NO were determined over an extended period at a site near Barrow, Alaska. A high-sensitivity instrument developed for this purpose was used in three measurement campaigns: summer 1988, spring 1989, and March-December 1990. During the 1990 campaign, the detection limit for NO was 3-10 pptv (depending on averaging period), and the NO$\sb{y}$ uncertainty was $\pm$26%. A screening algorithm was applied to the data to eliminate effects from local (Barrow) sources, and the remaining data were divided into "background periods" (unaffected by local or regional NO$\sb{x}$ sources), and "events" (periods when emissions from a regional NO$\sb{x}$ source--the Prudhoe Bay oil-producing region--apparently impacted Barrow). These measurements revealed a sharp seasonal cycle of background NO$\sb{y}$ concentrations, with high values in early spring (median 560-620 pptv) and $\sim$70 pptv (median) during summer. This cycle is similar to that of other compounds in arctic haze but is partially attributed to a reduction in NO$\sb{y}$ lifetime due to organic nitrate decomposition as temperatures and insolation increased. Evidence indicates that the springtime arctic NO$\sb{y}$ reservoir was primarily composed of stable removal-resistant species, including PAN and other organic nitrates. PAN decomposition as temperatures rose in late spring likely caused an observed pulse of NO to $\sim$35 pptv (maximum hourly average); hourly-average NO concentrations were otherwise generally $<$8 pptv. NO$\sb{x}$ production from PAN decomposition due to the onset of spring or southward advection may affect springtime O$\sb3$ levels both in the Arctic and in the northern mid-latitudes. NO$\sb{y}$ and O$\sb3$ concentrations were positively correlated during summer, possibly indicating ... |
author2 |
Jaffe, Daniel A. Gosnick, Joan P. Stolzberg, Richard J. Stamnes, Knut Shaw, Glenn E. |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Honrath, Richard Edward, Jr. |
author_facet |
Honrath, Richard Edward, Jr. |
author_sort |
Honrath, Richard Edward, Jr. |
title |
Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
title_short |
Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
title_full |
Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
title_fullStr |
Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nitrogen oxides in the Arctic troposphere |
title_sort |
nitrogen oxides in the arctic troposphere |
publishDate |
1991 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9324 |
geographic |
Arctic Fairbanks |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Fairbanks |
genre |
Arctic Barrow Prudhoe Bay Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Barrow Prudhoe Bay Alaska |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9324 Chemistry Department |
_version_ |
1766321261973078016 |