QUASI-CLASSICAL TRAJECTORY STUDY OF THE N(S-4)-]N-2(X (1)SIGMA(+)(G))+O(P-3) REACTION CROSS-SECTION ON THE EXCITED (3)A' NNO SURFACE(NO(X(2)PI))

Energy-dependent cross sections for the N(S-4) + NO(X(2) Pi) --> N-2(X (1) Sigma(g)(+)) + O(P-3) reaction are calculated over the 0.1-3 eV re lative translational energy range using the quasiclassical trajectory approach on the ground state (3)A '' and excited (3)A' potential energ y surfaces neglecting spin-orbit coupling. The dependence of the react ion cross section on the initial NO vibrational energy is also investi gated. Representative vibrational and rotational distributions of the resulting N-2 molecule are given. The motivation of this study is the possibility that the reaction acts as a sink of non-thermal N(S-4) ato ms in the terrestrial thermosphere.