NOx and NOy were determined in the interstitial air of surface snow and in
ambient air at Summit, Greenland. NOx levels in interstitial air were 3 to
>10 times those in ambient air, and were generally greater than ambient NOy
levels. [NOy] in interstitial air varied diurnally in a manner consistent
with photochemical generation within the snowpack. These observations imply
that photochemical reactions occurring within or upon the ice crystals of
surface snow produced NOx from a N-reservoir compound within the snow. Aver
age [NOx]:[HNO3] and [NOx]:[NOy] ratios in ambient air above the snow were
elevated relative to other remote sites, indicating that NOx release within
the snowpack may have altered NOx levels in the overlying atmospheric boun
dary layer. We suggest that the observed release of NOx may have been initi
ated by photolysis of nitrate, present in relative abundance in surface sno
w at Summit. Such a process may affect levels of nitrate and other compound
s in surface snow, the overlying atmosphere, and glacial ice, and its poten
tial role in cirrus cloud chemistry should be investigated.