Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “N2O”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8

Concentrations of CH4, CO, CO2, H2, H2O and N2O in the upper stratosphere

On 23 May 1973 a cryogenic air sampler was flown on an Aerobee rocket from White Sands Missile Range. A large air sample was collected between 40 and 50 km altitude and successfully recovered for water vapor and trace gas analysis. The results were as follows: water vapor, 4.0 (+1.3 or - 0.9) ppmV; methane, 0.37 + or - 0.01 ppmV; molecular hydrogen, 0.47 + or - 0.02 ppmV; carbon monoxide, 0.05 + or - 0.01 ppmV; carbon dioxide, 316.2 + or - 2.8 ppmV; and nitrous oxide, 3 + or - 7 ppb.

Ehhalt, D. H.↗

Gas-chromatographic measurements of atmospheric CF2Cl2, CFCl3 and N2O in Antarctica

Stratospheric ozone is produced photochemically and destroyed by reactions with such minor constituents as O, NOx, HOx, and ClOx. Chlorofluoromethanes (CF2Cl2 and CFCl3) and dinitrogen oxide (NwO) are considered as major sources of the stratospheric ClOx and NOx, respectively. It is well known that CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 are released only by man's activities, and are being accumulated in the troposphere. In order to assess the influence of these compounds on the natural ozone balance these gases have been measured over Japan since 1978. Measurements of Antarctic air samples are also indispensable to understanding the global distributions of these gases, because most CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 have been released in the Northern Hemisphere. Antarctic air samples were obtained by the 23rd, 24th and 25th Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions, and analyzed by a gas-chromatographic method using an electron capture detector. Three experimental results were obtained: (1) latitudinal distribution of these gases from Tokyo to Syowa Station (69.0 deg S, 39.6 deg E), (2) time trends at Syowa Station, and (3) vertical distributions over Syowa Station. Results are reported.

Hirota, H.↗

Reference model for CH4 and N2O and trends

Data from the Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder on Nimbus 7 were used as the basis for a model of the abundances of nitrous oxide and methane in the stratosphere. A version of this was produced two years ago (Taylor, Dudhia, and Rodgers - hereafter called the original paper) and in this new paper some of the possible error sources and long term trends are considered in more detail. The principle source of error in the SAMS retrievals is thought to be the use of climatological ozone profiles to invert the temperature profile data. However, it was found that the effect is too small, and of the opposite sign, to explain the discrepancies between satellite and in situ measurements, noted in the original paper. As expected, no systematic trends which exceed the estimated error in the data are found in either methane or nitrous oxide.

Taylor, F. W.↗

Correlation Of N2O And O3 In The Atmosphere

Report describes study of correlation between concentrations of nitrous oxide and ozone in atmosphere of Antarctic region during late austral winter. Strong anticorrelation provides signature of air in lower stratosphere; alteration of correlation at specific sites indicate loss of ozone or mixing of perturbed and unperturbed air. Positive correlation interpreted as evidence of chemical depletion of ozone or horizontal mixing of normal air from lower stratosphere with ozone-depleted air from vortex.

Strahan, S. E.↗

Troposphere-to-Stratosphere Transport in the Lowermost Stratosphere from Measurements of H2O, CO2, N2O and O3

The origin of air in the lowermost stratosphere is investigated with measurements from the NASA ER-2 aircraft. Air with high water vapor mixing ratios was observed in the stratosphere at theta about 330-380 K near 40N in May 1995, indicating the influence of intrusions of tropospheric air. Assuming that observed tracer-tracer relationships reflect mixing lines between tropospheric and stratospheric air masses, we calculate mixing ratios of H2O (12-24 ppmv) and CO2 for the admixed tropospheric air at theta =352-364 K. Temperatures on the 355 K surface at 20-40 N were low enough to dehydrate air to these values. while most ER-2 CO2 data in both hemispheres are consistent with tropical or subtropical air entering the lowermost stratosphere, measurements from May 1995 for theta <362 K suggest that entry of air from the midlatitude upper troposphere can occur in conjunction with mixing processes near the tropopause.

Hintsa, E. J.↗

Troposphere-to-Stratosphere Transport in the Lowermost Stratosphere from Measurements of H2O, CO2, N2O and O3

The origin of air in the lowermost stratosphere is investigated with measurements from the NASA ER-2 aircraft. Air with high water vapor mixing ratios was observed in the stratosphere at theta-330-380 K near 40 N in May 1995, indicating the influence of intrusions of tropospheric air. Assuming that observed tracer-tracer relationships reflect mixing lines between tropospheric and stratospheric air masses, we calculate mixing ratios of H2O (12-24 ppmv) and CO2 for the admixed tropospheric air at theta=352-364 K. Temperatures on the 355 K surface at 20-40 N were low enough to dehydrate air to these values. While most ER-2 CO2 data in both hemispheres are consistent with tropical or subtropical air entering the lowermost stratosphere, measurements from May 1995 for theta<362 K suggest that entry of air from the midlatitude upper troposphere can occur in conjunction with mixing processes near the tropopause.

Hintsa, E. J.↗

Correlations of Stratospheric Abundances of CH4 and N2O Derived from ATMOS Measurements

Atmospheric Trace MOlecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) measurements made over a wide range of altitudes and latitudes demonstrate compact correlations between mixing ratios of CH, and N,O. Tight but distinct correlations are observed for the tropics, the springtime Arctic vortex, and the extra-tropics/extra-vortex regions, indicating dynamical isolation between these regions. Little variability is apparent in correlations between CH4 and N20 from measurements made in different years (1992, 1993, and 1994), seasons (March/April and November), and hemispheres.

Rinsland, C. P.↗

Troposphere-to-Stratosphere Transport in the Lowermost Stratosphere from Measurements of H2O, CO2, N2O, and O3

The origin of air in the lowermost stratosphere is investigated with measurements from the NASA ER-2 aircraft. Air with high water vapor mixing ratios was observed in the stratosphere at theta approximately 330-380 K near 40 N in May 1995, indicating the influence of intrusions of tropospheric air. Assuming that observed tracer-tracer relationships reflect mixing lines between tropospheric and stratospheric air masses, we calculate mixing ratios of H2O (12-24 ppmv) and CO2 for the admixed tropospheric air at theta = 352-364 K. Temperatures on the 355 K surface 20-40 N were low enough to dehydrate air to these values. While most ER-2 CO2 data in both hemispheres are consistent with tropical or subtropical air entering the lowermost stratosphere, measurements from May 1995 for theta < 362 K suggest that entry of air from the midlatitude upper troposphere can occur in conjunction with mixing processes near the tropopause.

Hintsa, E. J.↗