American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF)

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 26, NO. 8, PAGES 1133–1136, 1999

A 2D Microphysical Model of the Polar Stratospheric CN Layer

Michael J. Mills

LASP/PAOS, University of Colorado, Boulder


Owen B. Toon

LASP/PAOS, University of Colorado, Boulder


Susan Solomon

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder


Abstract

Each spring a layer of small particles forms between 20 and 30 km altitude in the polar regions. We present the first self-consistent explanation of the observed “CN layer” from a 2D microphysical model of sulfate aerosol. Our theory relies on photolysis of H2SO4 and SO3, consistent with recent laboratory measurements, to produce SO2 in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere. An additional source of SO2 may be required. Nucleation throughout the polar winter extends the top of the aerosol layer to higher altitudes, despite strong downward transport of ambient air. This may affect heterogeneous chemistry at the top of the aerosol layer in polar winter and spring.

Received 14 October 1998; accepted 16 February 1999.

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF)

Citation: Mills, M. J., O. B. Toon, and S. Solomon (1999), A 2D Microphysical Model of the Polar Stratospheric CN Layer, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26(8), 1133–1136.