ISSN:
1573-0662
Keywords:
precipitation scavenging
;
Henry's Lawdependence
;
global model study
;
convection
;
gasrejection on freezing
;
trace gas vertical transport
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract With the global Chemistry-Transport model MATCHsensitivity simulations were performed to determinethe degree to which especially upward transport ofgases from the earth's surface is limited byconvective and large-scale precipitation scavenging.When only dissolution of species in the liquid phaseis taken into account, mixing ratio reductions in themiddle and upper troposphere by ≈10% arecalculated for gases with a Henry's Law constant H of103 mol/l/atm. The removal increases to ≈50% forH = 104 mol/l/atm, and to 90% for H =105 mol/l/atm. We also consider scavenging by theice phase, which is generally much less efficient thanby the aqueous phase. In fact, rejection of gases fromfreezing water droplets may be a source of trace gasat higher altitudes.H2O2 and the strong acids (H2SO4,HNO3, HCl, HBr, HI) have such large solubilitiesthat they become largely removed by precipitation.When significant concentrations of these gases andsulfate aerosol exist above the liquid water domain ofthe atmosphere, they have likely been produced thereor at higher altitudes, although some could have comefrom trace gas rejection from ice particles or fromevaporating hydrometeors. Several other gases areaffected by precipitation, but not strongly enough toprevent fractional transfer to the middle and uppertroposphere: e.g., HNO4, HNO2 at pH ≤5,CH2O, the organic acids at pH ≤6,CH3SOCH3, HOCl, HOBr, and HOI. NH3 islargely removed by liquid phase scavenging at pH ≤7 and SO2 atpH ≥7. At pH less thanabout 6, upward transport of SO2 should largelydepend on the efficiency of oxidation processes in thewater droplets by O3 and H2O2.Most gases have solubilities which are too low forsignificant precipitation scavenging and aqueous phaseoxidation to occur. This holds, e.g., for O3, CO,the hydrocarbons, NO, NO2, HCN, CH3CN,CH3SCH3, CH3O2H, CH3CHOandhigher aldehydes, CH3OH and higher alcohols,peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN), CH3COCH3 andother ketones (note that some of these are not listedin Table I because their solubilities are below 10mol/l/atm). Especially for the short-lived gases,transfer from the boundary layer to the middle andupper troposphere is actually promoted by the enhancedupward transport that occurs in clouds.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006322926426
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