Energy Transfer Reactions of Atmospheric Interest.
Abstract
Three main areas have been investigated during the term of this contract: (1) The kinetics of the sources and sinks of O(1S) in the lower thermosphere have been studied. Measurements have been made of the temperature-dependent rate of the reaction O(1S) + O(3P) goes to 20. The production of O(1S) in an oxygen atom system has been investigated, and comparisons have been made between the so-called Barth mechanism, in which O(1S) is produced from ground state atoms in a two-step process, and the one-step Chapman mechanism. The temperature dependence of this O(1S) source term has been obtained. On the basis of atmospheric observations, the conclusion is drawn that a better correlation exists between measured oxygen atom concentration profiles and the laboratory data if the source of O(1S) in the nightglow is the Barth, rather than the Chapman, mechanism. (2) A determination of quenching rate coefficients for the NO(B2 pI) state has been made, using a variety of collision partners. This state, the source of the NO B-band system, is important in combustion processes. (3) The first measurements of the product channels in O(1S) reactions have been carried out, using the five collision partners N2O, H2O, CO2, O2, and NO. All the reactions give high yields of physical quenching, with only H2O and possibly N2O having significant chemical reaction pathways--50% in the former case, and either 25% or 65% in the latter. Several of these reactions are of practical importance, and the behavior of a system having two alternatives for a physical quenching step O(3P) or O('D) is also interesting from a theoretical standpoint. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 23, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA037162
Entities
People
- G. Black
- T. G. Slanger
Organizations
- SRI International