Alkyl nitrates are produced in both the atmosphere and in the ocean by photochemical oxidation of organic precursors. Past studies have shown that low molecular weight alkyl nitrates, particularly methyl and ethyl nitrate, have high production rates and air-sea fluxes from equatorial ocean waters. In addition, high concentrations of these organic nitrates have been found in the atmosphere of the Southern Ocean. Measurements of alkyl nitrates during the HIPPO campaign were able to characterize the tropospheric distribution of these alkyl nitrates over all seasons, and from virtually pole to pole over the Pacific Ocean. Measurements from HIPPO confirm the strong equatorial source and show a strong asymmetry in methyl nitrate concentrations between hemispheres, with the Southern Hemisphere having consistently higher concentrations compared to the Northern Hemisphere. This presentation will discuss the alkyl nitrate distributions, sources, and variations observed during the mission and examine relationships to other trace gases.

Alkyl nitrate distributions and seasonal variation of trace gases observed over the Pacific Ocean during the HIPPO mission

245th National Meeting (2013)

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