Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 8 December 1995:
Vol. 270. no. 5242, pp. 1650 - 1653
DOI: 10.1126/science.270.5242.1650
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Particle Formation in the Upper Tropical Troposphere: A Source of Nuclei for the Stratospheric Aerosol

C. A. Brock (1),  P. Hamill,  J. C. Wilson,  H. H. Jonsson,  K. R. Chan

Atmospheric measurements and numerical calculations described here indicate that binary homogeneous nucleation of H2SO4-H2O particles occurs in the upper tropical troposphere. Particle concentrations decrease with increasing altitude above the tropical tropopause as a result of coagulation during the upward air transport produced by stratospheric circulations. During the extended periods of time that volcanic eruptions do not strongly influence stratospheric particle number concentrations, particles formed in the upper tropical troposphere provide nuclei upon which oxidized sulfur gases condense in the stratosphere. This particle source, coupled with aerosol microphysical properties and atmospheric transport, governs the number concentration of particles in the lower tropical and mid-latitude stratosphere.


C. A. Brock, J. C. Wilson, H. H. Jonsson, Department of Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
P. Hamill, Department of Physics, California State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA.
K. R. Chan, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
(1) To whom correspondence should be addressed.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Particle Formation by Ion Nucleation in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere.
S.-H. Lee, J. M. Reeves, J. C. Wilson, D. E. Hunton, A. A. Viggiano, T. M. Miller, J. O. Ballenthin, and L. R. Lait (2003)
Science 301, 1886-1889
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Situ Measurements of Organics, Meteoritic Material, Mercury, and Other Elements in Aerosols at 5 to 19 Kilometers.
D. M. Murphy, D. S. Thomson, and M. J. Mahoney (1998)
Science 282, 1664-1669
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Observations of Near-Zero Ozone Concentrations Over the Convective Pacific: Effects on Air Chemistry.
D. Kley, P. J. Crutzen, H. G. J. Smit, H. Vömel, S. J. Oltmans, H. Grassl, and V. Ramanathan (1996)
Science 274, 230-233
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)