In-situ observations of an Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud: Similarities with Arctic observations

Measured particle volumes in a type I polar stratospheric cloud near the Antarctic polar vortex during ASHOE/MAESA show that the onset of the cloud occurred near 193 K, 3 degrees colder than nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) saturation. The onset temperature, the smooth increase of volume with decreasing temperature, the inverse correlation of particle volume and enhanced NOy (HNO3 in the particles) with temperature, and comparisons of observations with an equilibrium model of ternary droplet growth all support the notion that much of this type I PSC was ternary solution droplets. This provides confirmation of previous findings in the northern hemisphere. However, the ternary model does not fit the observations in all regions. This may be due to the presence of some solid phase growth in agreement with impactor observations.