Abstract
Abstract. The lidar measurements at Verhnetulomski observatory (68.6°N, 31.8°E) at Kola peninsula detected a considerable increase of stratospheric aerosol concentration after the solar proton event of GLE (ground level event) type on the 16/02/84. This increase was located at precisely the same altitude range where the energetic solar protons lost their energy in the atmosphere. The aerosol layer formed precipitated quickly (1–2 km per day) during 18, 19, and 20 February 1984, and the increase of R(H) (backscattering ratio) at 17 km altitude reached 40% on 20/02/84. We present the model calculation of CN (condensation nuclei) altitude distribution on the basis of an ion-nucleation mechanism, taking into account the experimental energy distribution of incident solar protons. The meteorological situation during the event was also investigated.
Highlights
It is well documented that heterogeneous chemistry triggering ozone destruction occurs on sulfate aerosols (Tolbert et al, 1988; Hofman and Solomon, 1989)
We present the model calculation of condensation nuclei (CN) altitude distribution on the basis of an ion-nucleation mechanism, taking into account the experimental energy distribution of incident solar protons
The creation of sulfate aerosols by means of ion nucleation mechanism seems to be a possible reason for the ozone ‘‘minihole’’ appearance resulting from a set of heterogeneous chemical reactions after solar proton events of GLE type in May 1990 at Spitsbergen (Shumilov et al, 1992; 1995)
Summary
It is well documented that heterogeneous chemistry triggering ozone destruction occurs on sulfate aerosols (Tolbert et al, 1988; Hofman and Solomon, 1989). The eruption of Mount Pinatubo (1991) caused increases in sulfuric acid abundance by a factor of 50 (Tolbert, 1994). The mechanism of ion nucleation triggering by solar cosmic ray ionization was suggested by Arnold (1982) as a potential source of condensation nuclei (CN) on which stratospheric sulfate aerosols can form (Arnold, 1982; Hofman and Rosen, 1983). The creation of sulfate aerosols by means of ion nucleation mechanism seems to be a possible reason for the ozone ‘‘minihole’’ appearance resulting from a set of heterogeneous chemical reactions after solar proton events of GLE type in May 1990 at Spitsbergen (Shumilov et al, 1992; 1995). In this work the mechanism of aerosol formation during the GLE event on 16 February 1984 is discussed
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