Nitrogen oxides in the chemosphere /

A study was made of the various reactions in which nitrogen oxides are involved in the chemosphere. The hydrogen compounds do not play an important role, and it was found that the essential aeronomic reactions depend on ozone and atomic oxygen. Thus, the ratio nitrogen dioxide-nitric oxide can be determined. The absolute values of the NO2 and NO concentrations depend on the dissociation of molecular nitrogen in the chemosphere. The chemical conditions cannot be applied in the mesosphere since the life-time of NO is relatively long, and a downward transport is involved. Very special assumptions concerning chemical reactions would be necessary to reconcile the photochemical picture and the observational results. The introduction of ionic reactions will lead to a correct interpretation. (Author)."Ionospheric Research Scientific Repport No. 227.""December 10, 1964."Includes bibliographic references (pages 25-29)A study was made of the various reactions in which nitrogen oxides are involved in the chemosphere. The hydrogen compounds do not play an important role, and it was found that the essential aeronomic reactions depend on ozone and atomic oxygen. Thus, the ratio nitrogen dioxide-nitric oxide can be determined. The absolute values of the NO2 and NO concentrations depend on the dissociation of molecular nitrogen in the chemosphere. The chemical conditions cannot be applied in the mesosphere since the life-time of NO is relatively long, and a downward transport is involved. Very special assumptions concerning chemical reactions would be necessary to reconcile the photochemical picture and the observational results. The introduction of ionic reactions will lead to a correct interpretation. (Author).Research reported in this document has been sponsored by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, Office of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force, Bedford, Massachusetts, under contract no.Mode of access: Internet