The MLS HNO3 Product
Basic Information
Nitric acid (HNO3) plays several pivotal roles in the processes
controlling stratospheric ozone depletion. It is a key component
of the polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) that form in the very low
temperatures of polar winter, removing HNO3 from the gas phase.
PSC particles provide surfaces on which heterogeneous chemical
reactions occur, converting chlorine from its reservoir species
(e.g., ClONO2, HCl) to the highly reactive forms that participate
in the catalytic cycles of ozone destruction (e.g., ClO). On the
other hand, photolysis of HNO3 vapor releases NO2, enabling a major
pathway for the deactivation of chlorine, via the reformation of
ClONO2 from ClO and NO2. If PSC particles grow large enough,
then they can settle out of the lower stratosphere, carrying
the HNO3 with them in a process known as denitrification.
Severe denitrification curtails ClONO2 formation, allowing
enhanced ClO and thus chemical ozone destruction to persist.
Therefore, as a central participant in both the activation and
the deactivation of chlorine, HNO3 indirectly regulates the extent,
duration, and cumulative magnitude of stratospheric ozone depletion.
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The HNO3 Molecule
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How it is part of MLS Science Objectives
One of the main objectives of the Aura mission in general and MLS
in particular is to track the stability of stratospheric ozone.
Despite international regulations controlling the production
of ozone-depleting substances, the ozone layer may not recover
as expected. Potential changes in Earth's climate, including
possible cooling and/or moistening of the stratosphere, may
increase the prevalence and duration of PSC activity and lead to
more severe denitrification, exacerbating chemical ozone loss.
Measurement of HNO3 is critical to understanding these issues.
How EOS MLS measures HNO3
The standard product for HNO3 is taken from the 240 GHz (Core+R3) retrieval at and below 10 hPa, and from the 190 GHz (Core+R2B) retrieval at and above 6.8 hPa.

(map from 2005d264)
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HNO3 Information from the Spectroscopy Database
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Quick Product Information for data version v2.2
- Swath Name: HNO3
- Vertical Resolution:
3.5 - 4 km from 215 - 32 hPa 4 - 5 km at 10 - 3.2 hPa
- Useful Range: 215-3.2 hPa
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- DAAC Short Name: ML2HNO3
- Precision: +/- 0.7 ppbv from 215-3.2 hPa
- Accuracy: TBD
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v2.2 HNO3 Averaging Kernel
colored lines are individual kernels; thick dashed line is full width at half maximum, thick solid is integrated kernel value
Publications related to the MLS HNO3 data product
2008
- Santee, M.L., I.A. MacKenzie, G.L. Manney, M.P. Chipperfield, P.F. Bernath, K.A. Walker, C.D. Boone, L. Froidevaux, N.J. Livesey, J.W. Waters, "A study of stratospheric chlorine partitioning based on new", vol 113, 2008. Preprint
- Kinnison, D.E., J.C. Gille, J.J. Barnett, C.E. Randall, V.L. Harvey, A. Lambert, R. Khosravi, M.J. Alexander, P.F. Bernath, C.D. Boone, C. Cavanaugh, M.T. Coffey, C. Craig, V. Dean, T. Eden, D. Ellis, D.W. Fahey, G. Francis, C. Halvorson, J.W. Hannigan, C. Hartsough, C. Hepplewhite, C. Krinsky, H. Lee, W.G. Mankin, T. Marcy, S.T. Massie, B. Nardi, D. Packman, P.J. Popp, M.L. Santee, V. Yudin, K.A. Walker, "Global Observations of HNO3 from the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) - First results", 2008. Preprint
- Coffey, M.T., J.W. Hannigan, A. Goldman, D.E. Kinnison, J.C. Gille, J. Barnett, L. Froidevaux, A. Lambert, M.L. Santee, N.J. Livesey, B.M. Fisher, S.S. Kulawik, R. Beer, "Airborne Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) observations in support of EOS Aura validation", 2008. Preprint
2007
- Manney, G.L., W.H. Daffer, J.M. Zawodny, P.F. Bernath, K.W. Hoppel, K.A. Walker, B.W. Knosp, C. Boone, E.E. Remsberg, M.L. Santee, V. Lynn Harvey, S. Pawson, D.R. Jackson, L. Deaver, C.T. McElroy, C.A. McLinden, J.R. Drummond, H.C. Pumphrey, A. Lambert, M.J. Schwartz, L. Froidevaux, S. McLeod, L.L. Takacs, M.J. Suarez, C.R. Trepte, D.T. Cuddy, N.J. Livesey, R.S. Harwood, J.W. Waters, "Solar Occultation Satellite Data and Derived Meteorological Products: Sampling Issues and Comparisons with Aura MLS", vol 112, pgs. D24S50, 2007. Reprint
- Santee, M.L., A. Lambert, W.G. Read, N.J. Livesey, R.E. Cofield, D.T. Cuddy, W.H. Daffer, B.J. Drouin, L. Froidevaux, R.A. Fuller, R.F. Jarnot, B.W. Knosp, G.L. Manney, V.S. Perun, W.V. Snyder, P.C. Stek, R.P. Thurstans, P.A. Wagner, J.W. Waters, G. Muscari, R.L. deZafra, J.E. Dibb, D.W. Fahey, P.J. Popp, T.P. Marcy, K.W. Jucks, G.C. Toon, R.A. Stachnik, P.F. Bernath, C.D. Boone, K.A. Walker, J. Urban, D. Murtagh, "Validation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder HNO3 Measurements", vol 112, pgs. D24S40, 2007. Reprint
- Wang, D.Y., C.S. Singleton, G. Mengistu Tsidu, G.P. Stiller, T. von Clarmann, H. Fischer, T. Blumenstock, N. Glatthor, U. Grabowski, F. Hase, S. Kellmann, A. Linden, M. Milz, H. Oelhaf, M. Schneider, T. Steck, G. Wetzel, M. Lopez-Puertas, B. Funke, M.E. Koukouli, H. Nakajima, T. Sugita, H. Irie, J. Urban, D. Murtagh, M.L. Santee, G. Toon, M.R. Gunson, F.W. Irion, C.D. Boone, K. Walker, P.F. Bernath, "Validation of nitric acid retrieved by the IMK-IAA processor from
MIPAS/ENVISAT measurements", vol 7, pgs. 721-738, 2007. Reprint
2006
- Froidevaux, L., N.J. Livesey, W.G. Read, Y.B. Jiang, C.J. Jimenez, M.J. Filipiak, M.J. Schwartz, M.L. Santee, H.C. Pumphrey, J.H. Jiang, D.L. Wu, G.L. Manney, B.J. Drouin, J.W. Waters, E.J. Fetzer, P.F. Bernath, C.D. Boone, K.A. Walker, K.W. Jucks, G.C. Toon, J.J. Margitan, B. Sen, C.R. Webster, L.E. Christensen, J.W. Elkins, E. Atlas, R.A. Lueb, R. Hendershot, "Early validation analyses of atmospheric profiles from EOS MLS on the Aura satellite", vol 44, num no. 5, 2006. Reprint
- Cofield, R.E., P.C. Stek, "Design and field-of-view calibration of 114-660 GHz optics of the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder", vol 44, num no. 5, pgs. 1166-1181, 2006. Reprint
- Barret, B., P. Ricaud, M.L. Santee, J-L. Attie, J. Urban, E. Le Flochmoen, G. Berthet, D. Murtagh, P. Eriksson, A. Jones, J. de La Noe, E. Dupuy, L. Froidevaux, N.J. Livesey, J.W. Waters, M.J. Filipiak, "Intercomparisons of Trace Gas Profiles from the Odin/SMR and Aura/MLS Limb Sounders", vol 111, pgs. D21302, 2006. Reprint
- Irie, H., T. Sugita, H. Nakajima, T. Yokota, H. Oelhaf, G. Wetzel, G.C. Toon, B. Sen, M.L. Santee, Y. Terao, N. Saitoh, M.K. Ejiri, T. Tanaka, Y. Kondo, H. Kanzawa, H. Kanzawa, H. Kanzawa, H. Kobayashi, Y. Sasano, "Validation of stratospheric nitric acid concentration profiles observed by Improved Limb Atmospheric Sectrometer (ILAS)-II", vol 111, pgs. D11S03, 2006. Reprint
- Schoeberl, M.R., S.R. Kawa, A.R. Douglass, T.J. McGee, E.V. Browell, J.W. Waters, N.J. Livesey, W.G. Read, L. Froidevaux, M.L. Santee, H.C. Pumphrey, L.R. Lait, L. Twigg, "Chemical Observations of a Polar Vortex Intrusion", vol 111, pgs. D20306, 2006. Reprint
2005
- Davies, S., G.W. Mann, K.S. Carslaw, M.P. Chipperfield, J.A. Kettleborough, M.L. Santee, H. Oelhaf, G. Wetzel, Y. Sasano, T. Sugita, "3D microphysical model studies of Arctic denitrification: Comparison with observation", vol 5, pgs. 3093-3109, 2005. Reprint Summary
- Orsolini, Y.J., G.L. Manney, M.L. Santee, C.E. Randall, "An upper stratospheric layer of enhanced HNO3 following exceptional solar storms", vol 32, pgs. L12S01, 2005. Reprint Summary
- Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, N.J. Livesey, L. Froidevaux, H.C. Pumphrey, W.G. Read, M.J. Schwartz, J.W. Waters, "Polar processing and development of the 2004 Antarctic ozone hole: First results from Aura MLS", vol 32, pgs. L12817, 2005. Reprint Summary
2004
- Drouin, B.J., J.L. Fry, C.E. Miller, "Rotational Spectrum of cis-cis HOONO", vol 120, num Issue 12, pgs. 63-81, 2004. Reprint Summary
2002
- Danilin, M.Y., M K.W. Ko, R.M. Bevilacqua, L.V. Lyjak, L. Froidevaux, M.L. Santee, J.M. Zawodny, K.W. Hoppel, E.C. Richard, J.R. Spackman, E.M. Weinstock, R.L. Herman, K.A. McKinney, P.O. Wennberg, F.L. Eisele, R.M. Stimpfle, C.J. Scott, J.W. Elkins, T.V. Bui, "Comparison of ER-2 aircraft and POAM-III, MLS, and SAGE II satellite measurements during SOLVE using traditional correlative analysis and trajectory hunting techniques", vol 107, num D5, pgs. 8315, 2002. Reprint Summary
- Danilin, M.Y., M K.W. Ko, L. Froidevaux, M.L. Santee, L.V. Lyjak, R.M. Bevilacqua, J.M. Zawodny, Y. Sasano, H. Irie, Y. Kondo, J.M. Russell, C.J. Scott, W.G. Read, "Trajectory hunting as an effective technique to validate multiplatform measurements: Analysis of the MLS, HALOE, SAGE-II, ILAS, and POAM-II data in October-November 1996", vol 107, num D20, pgs. 4420, 2002. Reprint Summary
- Muscari, G., M.L. Santee, R.L. de Zafra, "Intercomparison of stratospheric HNO3 over Antarctica: Ground-based Millimeter-wave versus UARS/MLS Version 5 retrievals", vol 107, num D24, pgs. 4809, 2002. Reprint Summary
- Santee, M.L., A. Tabazadeh, G.L. Manney, M.D. Fromm, R.M. Bevilacqua, J.W. Waters, E.J. Jensen, "A Lagrangian approach to studying Arctic polar stratospheric clouds using UARS MLS HNO3 and POAM II aerosol extinction measurements", vol 107, num D10, pgs. 4098, 2002. Reprint Summary
2000
- Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, N.J. Livesey, J.W. Waters, "UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of Denitrification and Ozone Loss in the 2000 Arctic Late Winter", vol 27, pgs. 3213-3216, 2000. Reprint
- Tabazadeh, A., M.L. Santee, M.Y. Danilin, H.C. Pumphrey, P.A. Newman, P.J. Hamill, J.L. Mergenthaler, "Quantifying Denitrification and Its Effect on Ozone Recovery", vol 288, pgs. 1407-1411, 2000. Reprint
1999
- Dessler, A.E., J. Wu, M.L. Santee, M.R. Schoeberl, "Satellite observations of temporary and irreversible denitrification", vol 104, num D11, pgs. 13,993-14,002, 1999. Reprint
- Randel, W.J., F. Wu, J.M. Russell, J. Waters, "Space-time patterns of trends in stratospheric constituents derived from UARS measurements", vol 104, num D3, pgs. 3711-3727, 1999. Reprint
- Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, L. Froidevaux, W.G. Read, J.W. Waters, "Six years of UARS Microwave Limb Sounder HNO3 observations: Seasonal, interhemispheric, and interannual variations in the lower stratosphere", vol 104, num D7, pgs. 8225-8246, 1999. Reprint
1998
- Ricaud, P., E. Monnier, F. Goutail, J-P. Pommereau, C. David, S. Godin, L. Froidevaux, J.W. Waters, J. Mergenthaler, A.E. Roche, H. Pumphrey, M.P. Chipperfield, "Stratosphere over Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica, in winter 1992", vol 103, num D11, pgs. 13,267-13,284, 1998. Reprint
- Santee, M.L., A. Tabazadeh, G.L. Manney, R.J. Salawitch, L. Froidevaux, W.G. Read, J.W. Waters, "UARS MLS HNO3 observations: Implications for Antarctic PSCs", vol 103, num D11, pgs. 13,285-13,314, 1998. Reprint
1997
- Engel, A., U. Schmidt, R.A. Stachnik, "Partitioning Between Chlorine Reservoir Species Deduced from Observations in the Arctic Winter Stratosphere", vol 27, pgs. 107-126, 1997. Reprint
- Massie, S.T., J.E. Dye, D. Baumbardner, W.J. Randel, F. Wu, X.X. Tie, L. Pan, F. Figarol, G.P. Brasseur, M.L. Santee, W.G. Read, R.G. Grainger, A. Lambert, J.L. Mergenthaler, A. Tabazadeh, "Simultaneous observations of Polar Stratospheric Clouds and HNO3 over Scandinavia in January, 1992", vol 24, pgs. 595-598, 1997. Reprint
- Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, L. Froidevaux, R.W. Zurek, J.W. Waters, "MLS observations of ClO and HNO3 in the 1996-97 Arctic polar vortex", vol 24, pgs. 2713-2716, 1997. Reprint
1996
- Kumer, J.B., J.L. Mergenthaler, A.E. Roche, R.W. Nightingale, G.A. Ely, W.G. Uplinger, J.C. Gille, S.T. Massie, P.L. Bailey, M.R. Gunson, M.C. Abrams, G.C. Toon, B. Sen, J. Blavier, R.A. Stachnik, C.R. Webster, R.D. May, D.G. Murcray, F.J. Murcray, A. Goldman, W.A. Traub, K.W. Jucks, D.G. Johnson, "Comparison of correlative data with HNO3 version 7 from the CLAES instrument deployed on the NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite", vol 101, num D6, pgs. 9621-9656, 1996. Reprint
- Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, W.G. Read, L. Froidevaux, J.W. Waters, "Polar vortex conditions during the 1995-96 Arctic winter: MLS ClO and HNO3", vol 23, pgs. 3207-3210, 1996. Reprint
1995
- Santee, M.L., W.G. Read, J.W. Waters, L. Froidevaux, G.L. Manney, D.A. Flower, R.F. Jarnot, R.S. Harwood, G.E. Peckham, "Interhemispheric differences in polar stratospheric HNO3, H2O, ClO and O3", vol 267, pgs. 849-852, 1995. Reprint
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