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Greenland Ice Studies

Hi Jo-

 

I'm lovin your journal articles! This comes from one of them...

So what chemical reactions happen in snow and ice?  Does the carbon dioxide combine with the water to make acid snow or ice?

warmly,

Maggie 

Tue, 05/29/2007 - 20:01

Jo Dodds

Hi Maggie. I have been spending time with the photochemistry scientists and your question is really what our webinar is all about on Friday.  One of the chemical stories is that nitrogen oxide (cars) + hydrocarbons (industry) + sunlight will produce ozone.  In a series of other chemical reactions nitric acid is produced which generally washes out in the atmosphere as rain or snow.  Here at Summit, the sun provides the energy to release more nitrogen oxide back into the atmosphere from the snow (the nitric acid provides a soluable nitrate which is released as nitrogen oxide from the snow). This was discovered about ten years ago. This nitrogen oxide should be a key in producing more ozone.  I hope that helps a bit.  But that is only part of the story. Hopefully, you and your students can tune in on Friday for the "rest of the story".

Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:10

Victor Antonio

Hi!I'm a student and I just wanted to ask if reactions in water are called aqueous solutions, then reactions in snow are called what?
The answer here would really help me.
Thank you.

Wed, 01/20/2010 - 17:25

Jo Dodds

Hi Victor. Interesting question, though I am not sure how to answer it. Iwill forward your email to one of the scientists to get their opinion. I'll
get back to you as soon as possible.
Jo Dodds
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Subject: Comment for Forum topic: Chemical reactions in the snow