Unexpected high levels of NO observed at South Pole

Abstract

Reported here are the first Austral summer measurements of NO at South Pole (SP). They are unique in that the levels are one to two orders of magnitude higher (i.e., median, 225 pptv) than measured at other polar sites. The available evidence suggests that these elevated levels are the result of photodenitrification of the snowpack, in conjunction with a very thin atmospheric mixing depth. Important chemical consequences included finding the atmospheric oxidizing power at SP to be an order of magnitude higher than expected.