Articles | Volume 23, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2215-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2215-2023
Research article
 | 
14 Feb 2023
Research article |  | 14 Feb 2023

The importance of acid-processed meteoric smoke relative to meteoric fragments for crystal nucleation in polar stratospheric clouds

Alexander D. James, Finn Pace, Sebastien N. F. Sikora, Graham W. Mann, John M. C. Plane, and Benjamin J. Murray

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The importance of acid processed meteoric smoke relative to meteoric fragments for crystal nucleation in polar stratospheric clouds A. D. James, F. Pace, S. N. F. Sikora, G. W. Mann, J. M. C. Plane, and B. J. Murray https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7635845

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Short summary
Here, we examine whether several materials of meteoric origin can nucleate crystallisation in stratospheric cloud droplets which would affect ozone depletion. We find that material which could fragment on atmospheric entry without melting is unlikely to be present in high enough concentration in the stratosphere to contribute to observed crystalline clouds. Material which ablates completely then forms a new solid known as meteoric smoke can provide enough nucleation to explain observed clouds.
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