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Effects of Aircraft On Aerosol Abundance in the Upper Troposphere

Authors :
Ferry, G. V
Pueschel, R. F
Strawa, A. W
Howard, S. D
Verma, S
Mahoney, M. J
Bui, T. P
Hannan, J. R
Fuelberg, H. E
Condon, Estelle P
Publication Year :
1999
Publisher :
United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 1999.

Abstract

A significant increase in sulfuric acid aerosol concentration was detected above 10 km pressure altitude during a cross-corridor flight out of Shannon on October 23, 1997. The source of this aerosol is ascribed to commercial aircraft operations in flight corridors above 10 km, because (1) a stable atmosphere prevented vertical air mass exchanges and thus eliminated surface sources, (2) air mass back trajectories documented the absence of remote continental sources, and (3) temperature profiler data showed the tropopause at least one kilometers above flight altitude throughout the flight. Particle volatility identified 70% H2SO4, 20% (NH4)2SO4 and 10% nonvolatile aerosol in the proximity of flight corridors, and (10-30)% H2SO4, up to 50% (NH4)2SO4, and (40-60)% nonvolatile aerosols in air that was not affected by aircraft operations below 10 km. Only a very small fraction of the nonvolatile particles (determined with a condensation nucleus counter) could be morphologically identified as soot aerosol (validated by scanning electron microscopy of wire impactor samples). The newly formed H2SO4 particles did not measurably affect surface area and volume of the background aerosol due to their small size, hence did not affect radiative transfer directly.

Subjects

Subjects :
Environment Pollution

Details

Language :
English
Database :
NASA Technical Reports
Notes :
RTOP 538-08-12-14
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsnas.20020073381
Document Type :
Report