Rethinking The Mesospheres Magnesium Ion Chemistry

Abstract

High-level quantum chemical calculations address the structural and thermochemical properties of several novel magnesium-containing molecular ions which, we argue, are relevant to the Mg+ chemistry initiated by meteoric ablation in the mesosphere. A model for Mg+ chemistry is evaluated, with results indicating that most ionized magnesium at altitudes of 90 km and below is rapidly hydrated due to the association reactions of the pivotal HOMg+ ion. The implications of this new mechanism, apparently leading towards noctilucent cloud nucleation by Mg+, are briefly explored.