% IMPORTANT: The following is UTF-8 encoded. This means that in the presence
% of non-ASCII characters, it will not work with BibTeX 0.99 or older.
% Instead, you should use an up-to-date BibTeX implementation like “bibtex8” or
% “biber”.
@ARTICLE{Molleker:185592,
author = {Molleker, S. and Borrmann, S. and Schlager, H. and Luo, B.
and Frey, W. and Klingebiel, M. and Weigel, R. and Ebert, M.
and Mitev, V. and Matthey, R. and Woiwode, W. and Oelhaf, H.
and Dörnbrack, A. and Stratmann, G. and Grooß, J.-U. and
Günther, G. and Vogel, B. and Müller, R. and Krämer, M.
and Meyer, J. and Cairo, F.},
title = {{M}icrophysical properties of synoptic-scale polar
stratospheric clouds: in situ measurements of unexpectedly
large {HNO}3-containing particles in the {A}rctic vortex},
journal = {Atmospheric chemistry and physics},
volume = {14},
number = {19},
issn = {1680-7324},
address = {Katlenburg-Lindau},
publisher = {EGU},
reportid = {FZJ-2014-07018},
pages = {10785 - 10801},
year = {2014},
abstract = {In January 2010 and December 2011, synoptic-scale polar
stratospheric cloud (PSC) fields were probed during seven
flights of the high-altitude research aircraft M-55
Geophysica within the RECONCILE (Reconciliation of essential
process parameters for an enhanced predictability of Arctic
stratospheric ozone loss and its climate interaction) and
the ESSenCe (ESSenCe: ESA Sounder Campaign) projects.
Particle size distributions in a diameter range between 0.46
and 40μm were recorded by four different optical in situ
instruments. Three of these particle instruments are based
on the detection of forward-scattered light by single
particles. The fourth instrument is a grayscale optical
array imaging probe. Optical particle diameters of up to
35μm were detected with particle number densities and total
particle volumes exceeding previous Arctic measurements.
Also, gas-phase and particle-bound NOy was measured, as well
as water vapor concentrations. The optical characteristics
of the clouds were measured by the remote sensing lidar MAL
(Miniature Aerosol Lidar) and by the in situ backscatter
sonde MAS (Multiwavelength Aerosol Scatterometer), showing
the synoptic scale of the encountered PSCs. The particle
mode below 2μm in size diameter has been identified as
supercooled ternary solution (STS) droplets. The PSC
particles in the size range above 2μm in diameter are
considered to consist of nitric acid hydrates, and the
particles' high HNO3 content was confirmed by the NOy
instrument. Assuming a particle composition of nitric acid
trihydrate (NAT), the optically measured size distributions
result in particle-phase HNO3 mixing ratios exceeding
available stratospheric values. Therefore the measurement
uncertainties concerning probable overestimations of
measured particle sizes and volumes are discussed in detail.
We hypothesize that either a strong asphericity or an
alternate particle composition (e.g., water ice coated with
NAT) could explain our observations. In particular, with
respect to the denitrification by sedimentation of large
HNO3-containing particles, generally considered to be NAT,
our new measurements raise questions concerning composition,
shape and nucleation pathways. Answering these would improve
the numerical simulation of PSC microphysical processes like
cloud particle formation, growth and denitrification, which
is necessary for better predictions of future polar ozone
losses, especially under changing global climate conditions.
Generally, it seems that the occurrence of large NAT
particles – sometimes termed "NAT rocks" – are a regular
feature of synoptic-scale PSCs in the Arctic.},
cin = {IEK-7},
ddc = {550},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)IEK-7-20101013},
pnm = {234 - Composition and Dynamics of the Upper Troposphere and
Stratosphere (POF2-234)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF2-234},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
UT = {WOS:000344164800025},
doi = {10.5194/acp-14-10785-2014},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/185592},
}