Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1422
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1422
12 Dec 2022
 | 12 Dec 2022

Effects of denitrification on the distributions of trace gas abundances in the polar regions: a model-data comparison

Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon

Abstract. Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a key role in the polar chemistry of the stratosphere. Nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles have been shown to lead to denitrification of the lower stratosphere. While the existence of large NAT particles (NAT "rocks") has been verified by many measurements especially in the Northern Hemisphere (NH), most current chemistry-climate models use simplified parametrizations, often based on evaluations in the Southern Hemisphere where the polar vortex is stable enough that accounting for NAT rocks is not as important as in the NH. Here, we evaluate the probability density functions of various gaseous species in the polar vortex using one such model, the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), and compare these with measurements by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding onboard the Environmental Satellite (MIPAS/Envisat) and two ozonesonde stations for a range of years and in both hemispheres. Using the maximum difference between the distributions of MIPAS and WACCM as a measure of coherence, we find better agreement for HNO3 when reducing the NAT number density from the standard value of 10−2 used in this model to 5 × 10−4 cm−3 for almost all spring seasons during the MIPAS period in both hemispheres. The distributions of ClONO2 and O3 are not greatly affected by the NAT density. The average difference of WACCM to ozonesondes supports the need to reduce the NAT number density in the model. Therefore, this study suggests to use a NAT number density of 5 × 10−4 cm−3 for future simulations with WACCM.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Jun 2023
Effects of denitrification on the distributions of trace gas abundances in the polar regions: a comparison of WACCM with observations
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6849–6861, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023, 2023
Short summary
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1422', Ingo Wohltmann, 10 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michael Weimer, 14 Apr 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1422', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 Mar 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michael Weimer, 14 Apr 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1422', Ingo Wohltmann, 10 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michael Weimer, 14 Apr 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1422', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 Mar 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michael Weimer, 14 Apr 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Michael Weimer on behalf of the Authors (14 Apr 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (17 Apr 2023) by Farahnaz Khosrawi
RR by Ingo Wohltmann (18 Apr 2023)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (20 Apr 2023) by Farahnaz Khosrawi
AR by Michael Weimer on behalf of the Authors (19 May 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (24 May 2023) by Farahnaz Khosrawi
AR by Michael Weimer on behalf of the Authors (26 May 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Jun 2023
Effects of denitrification on the distributions of trace gas abundances in the polar regions: a comparison of WACCM with observations
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6849–6861, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023, 2023
Short summary
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon

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Short summary
We investigate the influence of the number density of nitric acid trihydrate particles on associated trace gases in the lower stratosphere using data from satellite, ozonesondes and simulations by a community chemistry climate model. By comparing probability density functions between observations and model, we find that the standard NAT number density should be reduced for future simulations with the model.