A comparison of observations and model simulations of NOx/NOy in the lower stratosphere

Extensive airborne measurements of the reactive nitrogen reservoir (NOy) and its component nitric oxide (NO) have been made in the lower stratosphere. Box model simulations that are constrained by observations of radical and long-lived species and which include heterogeneous chemistry systematically underpredict the NOx (= NO + NO2) to NOy ratio. The model agreement is substantially improved if newly measured rate coefficients for the OH + NO2 and OH + HNO3 reactions are used. When included in 2-D models, the new rate coefficients significantly increase the calculated ozone loss due to NOx and modestly change the calculated ozone abundances in the lower stratosphere. Ozone changes associated with the emissions of a fleet of supersonic aircraft are also altered.