Kelly, CW, Chipperfield, MP orcid.org/0000-0002-6803-4149, Plane, JMC et al. (4 more authors) (2018) An Explanation for the Nitrous Oxide Layer Observed in the Mesopause Region. Geophysical Research Letters, 45 (15). pp. 7818-7827. ISSN 0094-8276
Abstract
Recent satellite measurements of a layer of enhanced nitrous oxide (N₂O) in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier Transform Spectrometer have suggested an unexpected, minor high-altitude production source. Here we report the development of a mechanism and the first model simulations, which can explain the formation of this MLT N₂O layer. N₂O production occurs primarily via a reaction route involving the excitation of N₂ from secondary electrons. Simulations using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, with external forcing from the Global Airglow model, quantitatively reproduce the observed vertical, latitudinal, and seasonal N₂O variations. Sensitivity results indicate that photoelectrons are far more important than previously predicted, causing approximately two thirds of global N₂O production in the MLT. Energetic electron precipitation over high latitudes provides the remaining contribution. Solar cycle analysis reveals N₂O enhancements of up to ×2 at solar maximum compared to solar minimum.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2018, The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Inst for Climate & Atmos Science (ICAS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Sep 2018 16:33 |
Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2018 16:33 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Geophysical Union |
Identification Number: | 10.1029/2018GL078895 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:135594 |
Download
Filename: Kelly_et_al-2018-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf
Licence: CC-BY 4.0