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Measurement of the photodissociation coefficient of NO2 in the atmosphere: I. Method and surface measurements

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Abstract

An instrument, specifically designed for measurements from a balloon platform in the stratosphere, has been used to obtain ground-level values of the atmospheric photodissociation coefficient of nitrogen dioxide, J NO 2.A typical clear-sky value is 8.0×10-3 s-1 when the solar zenith angle is 40°. Measurements were made as a function of solar zenith angle and correlated with a calibrated Eppley UV radiometer. It is shown that J NO 2may be expressed as a simple function of the radiometer output so that estimates of J NO 2can be made using just an upward looking radiometer to an accuracy of about 20%. The measurements are also found to be in good agreement with calculations of J NO 2using a simplified isotropic multiple scattering computer routine.

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Author notes

  1. S. Madronich

    Present address: Aerochem Research Laboratories, PO Box 12, 08540, Princeton, NJ, U.S.A.

  2. B. A. Ridley

    Present address: National Center for Atmospheric Research, PO Box 3000, 80307, Boulder, CO, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, York University, M3J 1P3, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

    S. Madronich, D. R. Hastie, B. A. Ridley & H. I. Schiff

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  1. S. Madronich
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  2. D. R. Hastie
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  3. B. A. Ridley
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  4. H. I. Schiff
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Madronich, S., Hastie, D.R., Ridley, B.A. et al. Measurement of the photodissociation coefficient of NO2 in the atmosphere: I. Method and surface measurements. J Atmos Chem 1, 3–25 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00113977

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00113977

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