ACETONE IN THE UPPER TROPOSPHERE AND LOWER STRATOSPHERE - IMPACT ON TRACE GASES AND AEROSOLS

Upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric acetone measurements have b een performed in summer and winter 1994 through 1996 at latitudes betw een 30 degrees N and 75 degrees N using ion-molecule reaction mass spe ctrometry. We observed very high acetone volume mixing ratios of up to 3000 pptv (parts per trillion by volume) in extended air masses and i n summer when acetone destruction by photodissociation is fast. This i ndicates efficient transport of acetone and photochemical acetone prec ursors to the upper troposphere and efficient upper tropospheric forma tion of acetone products, especially HOx radicals and PAN. Our data in dicate large HOx production from acetone which has important implicati ons for other trace gases and aerosols.