A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes
Nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) is a prominent atmospheric pollutant and a key chemical constituent of snow and ice, which plays a crucial role in the atmosphere and significantly impacts regional climate and environment conditions through a series of complex chemical pr...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/59 |
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| author | Mengxue Chen Hewen Niu Yankun Xiang |
| author_facet | Mengxue Chen Hewen Niu Yankun Xiang |
| author_sort | Mengxue Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) is a prominent atmospheric pollutant and a key chemical constituent of snow and ice, which plays a crucial role in the atmosphere and significantly impacts regional climate and environment conditions through a series of complex chemical processes. By summarizing the recent research progress on the nitrate chemical process (particularly on the isotopic measurements of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (δ<sup>15</sup>N, Δ<sup>17</sup>O and δ<sup>18</sup>O)) in atmosphere and glacier snow, this study mainly investigated the chemical compositions and chemical processes, formation pathways, and photochemical reactions of nitrate in snow and atmosphere. Our results identified that the main ways of atmospheric nitrate formation are the hydrolysis of N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and the reaction of ·OH with NO<sub>2</sub>; the spatial distribution of Δ<sup>17</sup>O and δ<sup>18</sup>O values of atmospheric nitrate have a significant latitudinal trend between 30° N–60° N; the study of stable isotopes (δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>18</sup>O) and the oxygen isotope anomaly (Δ<sup>17</sup>O) of nitrate have mainly been carried out over the densely populated and coastal mega cities; there exist significant gaps in the study of chemistry processes of nitrate in snow and ice and the air–snow interfaces across glaciated regions. This study provides a basic reference for more robust observations and research of nitrate in glacier areas in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab97bc57264a453e82c43f1655fc9efa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab97bc57264a453e82c43f1655fc9efa2024-01-26T15:01:58ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-12-011515910.3390/atmos15010059A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable IsotopesMengxue Chen0Hewen Niu1Yankun Xiang2State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Snow Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Snow Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaNanjing Meteorological Bureau in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210019, ChinaNitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) is a prominent atmospheric pollutant and a key chemical constituent of snow and ice, which plays a crucial role in the atmosphere and significantly impacts regional climate and environment conditions through a series of complex chemical processes. By summarizing the recent research progress on the nitrate chemical process (particularly on the isotopic measurements of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (δ<sup>15</sup>N, Δ<sup>17</sup>O and δ<sup>18</sup>O)) in atmosphere and glacier snow, this study mainly investigated the chemical compositions and chemical processes, formation pathways, and photochemical reactions of nitrate in snow and atmosphere. Our results identified that the main ways of atmospheric nitrate formation are the hydrolysis of N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and the reaction of ·OH with NO<sub>2</sub>; the spatial distribution of Δ<sup>17</sup>O and δ<sup>18</sup>O values of atmospheric nitrate have a significant latitudinal trend between 30° N–60° N; the study of stable isotopes (δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>18</sup>O) and the oxygen isotope anomaly (Δ<sup>17</sup>O) of nitrate have mainly been carried out over the densely populated and coastal mega cities; there exist significant gaps in the study of chemistry processes of nitrate in snow and ice and the air–snow interfaces across glaciated regions. This study provides a basic reference for more robust observations and research of nitrate in glacier areas in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/59nitrateisotope compositionoxygen isotope anomalysnowformation pathway |
| spellingShingle | Mengxue Chen Hewen Niu Yankun Xiang A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes Atmosphere nitrate isotope composition oxygen isotope anomaly snow formation pathway |
| title | A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes |
| title_full | A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes |
| title_fullStr | A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes |
| title_short | A Study of Chemical Processes of Nitrate in Atmospheric Aerosol and Snow Based on Stable Isotopes |
| title_sort | study of chemical processes of nitrate in atmospheric aerosol and snow based on stable isotopes |
| topic | nitrate isotope composition oxygen isotope anomaly snow formation pathway |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/59 |
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