The effect of precipitation on the vertical profiles of atmospheric ammonia: a modeling investigation

This paper describes theoretical calculations of atmospheric ammonia profiles during precipitation events. The PLUVIUS reactive storm model (Hales, 1982, Atmospheric Environment16,1775–1783) was used in a simplified form relevant to this specific system. Calculated NH3 profiles for dry atmospheres were consistent with distributions previously reported in the literature. NH3 profiles in the gas and cloud phases, following a simulated convective storm, showed large variations with height. These variations are strongly dependent on storm duration. In some cases, NH3 gas concentrations were depleted by more than 50% by the precipitation scavenging process. Modeled NH3 gas profiles regenerate slowly with time after storm termination.

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