Measurement of gaseous HNO3 over the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

A latitudinal profile (30° W, from 30° N to 30° S) of mixing ratios of nitric acid and particulate nitrate was determined on the Atlantic Ocean during the Polarstern cruise ANT VII/1 from Bremerhaven, Germany, to Rio Grande, Brazil. The detection of HNO3 was performed simultaneously by laser-photolysis fragment-fluorescence (LPFF) and by nylon filter packs. The detection limit was about 30 pptv for a signal accumulation time of 1 h for LPFF and about 5 pptv for the filters at a collection time of 4 h. In general, the mixing ratios of HNO3 in the Northern Hemisphere were found to be significantly higher than those in the Southern Hemisphere. The Atlantic background concentrations frequently varied between 80 pptv and the detection limit. Larger deviations from this trend were found for the more northern latitudes and for episodes like crossings of exhaust plumes from ships or from continental pollutions sources.