Lee-wave clouds and denitrification of the polar stratosphere

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 36-1 - 36-4
• Main Authors: Dhaniyala, Suresh, Mckinney, Karena A., Wennberg, Paul O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 01.05.2002; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Aerosols and particles; Atmospheric Composition and Structure; Cloud physics and chemistry; Clouds; Geophysics; Lee waves; Nitric acid; Nucleation; Sedimentation; Stratosphere; Wind shear

We present a hypothesis that the known formation of nitric acid hydrates in lee‐wave ice clouds produces a “standing crop” of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles, and that growth and sedimentation of these particles efficiently denitrifies the polar stratosphere. Simulations using a simple two‐di...