Abstract
Atmospheric charged clusters are formed in a series of rapid chemical reactions after ionisation, leaving a central ion X+ or X− clustered with n ligands (Y) n . In solar system tropospheres and stratospheres there are two distinct cluster regimes: the terrestrial planets contain largely hydrated clusters (i.e. Y=H2O), whereas the gas planets and their moons have organic or nitrogenated cluster species. These classifications are largely based on model predictions, since hardly any measurements are available. The few existing composition measurements are reviewed, including the recent detection of massive charged particles in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Technologies for both remote sensing and in situ measurements of atmospheric charged clusters are discussed. Preliminary measurements in the terrestrial atmosphere are presented indicating that ambient charged cluster species interact with downwelling infra-red radiation at 9.15 μm, even in the presence of cloud. This supports the possibility of future infrared detection of charged clusters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
K.L. Aplin, Instrumentation for atmospheric ion measurements. PhD Thesis, The University of Reading, UK (2000)
K.L. Aplin, Surv. Geophys. 27, 63–108 (2006). doi:10.1007/s10712-005-0642-9
K.L. Aplin, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 76, 104501 (2005). doi:10.1063/1.2069744
K.L. Aplin, R.G. Harrison, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 72(8), 3467–3469 (2001)
K.L. Aplin, R.G. Harrison, M.J. Rycroft, Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
K.L. Aplin, R.A. McPheat, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys. 67(8–9), 775–783 (2005). doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2005.01.007
G.A. Bazilevskaya, I.G. Usoskin, E. Flückiger et al., Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
A.J. Bennett, R.G. Harrison, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys. (2008, in press). doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2008.04.014
G. Beig, G.P. Brasseur, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 22671–22684 (2000)
W.J. Borucki, Z. Levin, R.C. Whitten et al., Icarus 51, 302–321 (1982)
W.J. Borucki, Z. Levin, R.C. Whitten et al., Icarus 72, 604–622 (1987)
W.J. Borucki, R.C. Whitten, Planet. Space Sci. 56, 19–26 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.pss.2007.03.013
L.A. Capone, J. Dubach, R.C. Whitten et al., Icarus 39, 433–449 (1979)
L.A. Capone, R.C. Whitten, S.S. Prasad et al., Astrophys. J. 215, 977–983 (1977)
H.R. Carlon, C.S. Harden, Appl. Opt. 19(11), 1776–1786 (1980)
C. Clerbaux, J. Hadji-Lazaro, S. Turquety et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 3, 1495–1508 (2003)
A.J. Coates, F.J. Crary, G.R. Lewis et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L22103 (2007). doi:10.1029/2007GL030978
M.L. Delitsky, R.P. Turco, M.Z. Jacobson, Geophys. Res. Lett. 17(10), 1725–1728 (1990)
M.L. Delitsky, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 38, 519 (2006)
S. Eichkorn, S. Wilhelm, H. Aufmhoff et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 29(14), 1698 (2002). doi:10.1029/2002GL015044
F.L. Eisele, J. Geophys. Res. 94, 2183–2196 (1989)
F.L. Eisele, E.R. Lovejoy, E. Kosciuch et al., J. Geophys. Res. 111, D04305 (2006). doi:10.1029/2005JD006568
M.J. Elrod, Int. J. Mass Spectr. 228, 91–105 (2003)
A.P. Fews, N.K. Holden, P.A. Keitch et al., Atmos. Res. 76(1–4), 29–48 (2005)
F.M. Flasar, V.G. Kunde, M.M. Abbas et al., Space Sci. Rev. 115(1–4), 169–297 (2004)
M. Fulchignoni, F. Ferri, F. Angrilli et al., Space Sci. Rev. 104(1–4), 395–431 (2002). doi:10.1023/A:1023688607077
M. Hamelin, C. Beghin, R. Grard et al., Planet. Space Sci. 55, 1964–1977 (2007). doi:10.1016/j.pss.2007.04.008
R.G. Harrison, K.L. Aplin, Atmos. Res. 85, 199–208 (2007). doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2006.12.006
R.G. Harrison, K.S. Carslaw, Rev. Geophys. 41 (2003). doi:10.1029/2002RG000114
R.G. Harrison, J.R. Knight, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 116105 (2006). doi:10.1063/1.2370752
R.G. Harrison, H. Tammet, Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
J. Kazil, R.G. Harrison, E. Lovejoy et al., Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
A. Kiendler, F. Arnold, Atmos. Environ. 36, 1757–1761 (2002)
W. Klemperer, V. Vaida, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 103(28), 10584–10588 (2006). doi:10.1073/pnas.0508231103
J.P. Lebreton, O. Witasse, C. Sollazzo et al., Nature 438, 758–764 (2005). doi:10.1038/nature04347
O. Möhler, T. Reiner, F. Arnold, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 64(5), 1199–1207 (1993)
D.R. MacGorman, W.D. Rust, The Electrical Nature of Storms (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998), pp. 25–31
G.J. Molina-Cuberos, J.J. López-Moreno, R. Rodrigo et al., Adv. Space Res. 28(10), 1511–1516 (2001)
G.J. Molina-Cuberos, H. Lichtenegger, K. Schwingenschuh et al., J. Geophys. Res. 107, E5 (2002). doi:10.1029/2000JE001447
K. Nagato, T. Ogawa, J. Geophys. Res. 103, 13917–13925 (1998)
H.B. Niemann, S.K. Atreya, S.J. Bauer et al., Space Sci. Rev. 104(1–4), 553–591 (2002). doi:10.1023/A:1023680305259
N.R. Owen, K.L. Aplin, P.A. Stevens, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. (2008, in press). http://epubs.cclrc.ac.uk/work-details?w=43535
T.E. Parts, A. Luts, Atmos. Env. 38, 1283–1289 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2003.11.030
D. Smith, M.J. Church, Planet. Space Sci. 25(5), 433–439 (1977). doi:10.1016/0032-633(77)90075-7
H. Tammet, The aspiration method for the determination of atmospheric ion spectra. Israel program for scientific translations, Jerusalem, 1970
S.N. Tripathi, M. Michael, R.G. Harrison, Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
V. Vaida, J.S. Daniel, H.G. Kjaergaard et al., Q. J. R. Met. Soc. 127, 1627–1643 (2001)
J.H. Waite, D.T. Young, T.E. Cravens et al., Science 316(5826), 870–875 (2007). doi:10.1126/science.1139727
R.C. Whitten, W.J. Borucki, S.N. Tripathi, J. Geophys. Res. 112, E04001 (2007). doi:10.1029/2006JE002788
R.C. Whitten, W.J. Borucki, K. O’Brien et al., J. Geophys. Res. 113, E04001 (2008). doi:10.1029/2007JE002975
K.H. Wohlfrom, S. Eichkorn, F. Arnold et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 27(23), 3853–3860 (2000)
I.P. Wright, S.J. Barber, G.H. Morgan et al., Space Sci. Rev. 128, 1–4 (2007). doi:10.1007/s11214-006-9001-5
Y. Yair, Space Sci. Rev. (2008, this issue)
D.T. Young, J.J. Berthelier, M. Blanc et al., Space Sci. Rev. 114(1–4), 1–112 (2004). doi:10.1007/s11214-004-1406-4
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aplin, K.L. Composition and Measurement of Charged Atmospheric Clusters. Space Sci Rev 137, 213–224 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-008-9397-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-008-9397-1
Keywords
- Atmospheric electricity, lightning
- Comparative planetology
- Planetary atmospheres
- Charged clusters
- Ion chemistry and composition; ionisation mechanisms