The atmospheric chemistry of hydrogen cyanide (HCN)

Since 1981, three groups have reported spectroscopic detections and measurements of hydrogen cyanide in the atmosphere. HCN concentrations (volume mixing ratios) of (1.5-1.7) x 10-10 appear to characterize the stratosphere and the Northern Hemisphere's nonurban troposphere. In this paper we explore the atmospheric behavior of HCN by examining its chemical and photochemical properties. -from Author