Smoke plume measurements help scientists understand nitrous acid sources

Smoke billows from the Bootleg Fire in Oregon on July 17, 2021. Credit: Inciweb

Wildfire smoke is a major source of nitrous acid in the atmosphere, which is an important precursor to the OH molecule, or the hydroxyl radical. OH is a key atmospheric oxidizer, impacting the global distribution and concentration of greenhouse gases. A recent study, supported in part by the Climate Program Office’s Atmospheric Chemistry, Carbon Cycle and Climate (AC4) Program, investigates the sources of nitrous oxides from wildfires.

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