Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years

M. Toohey; B. M. Quine; K. Strong; P. F. Bernath; C. D. Boone; A. I. Jonsson; C. T. McElroy; K. A. Walker; D. Wunch

Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years

M. Toohey, B. M. Quine, K. Strong, P. F. Bernath, C. D. Boone, A. I. Jonsson, C. T. McElroy, K. A. Walker, D. Wunch

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-11 and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	6075-6084
Number of pages	10
Journal	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume	7
Issue number	23
Publication status	Published - 2007

Keywords

MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE MODEL
NITRIC-ACID
VALIDATION
NO2
SASKATCHEWAN
CLIMATOLOGY
RETRIEVALS
EMISSION
DATABASE
TRENDS

Cite this

@article{3f0723fdda1a4e418fcaa5cd9f5edf2d,

title = "Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years",

abstract = "Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-11 and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.",

keywords = "MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE MODEL, NITRIC-ACID, VALIDATION, NO2, SASKATCHEWAN, CLIMATOLOGY, RETRIEVALS, EMISSION, DATABASE, TRENDS",

author = "M. Toohey and Quine, {B. M.} and K. Strong and Bernath, {P. F.} and Boone, {C. D.} and Jonsson, {A. I.} and McElroy, {C. T.} and Walker, {K. A.} and D. Wunch",

year = "2007",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "6075--6084",

journal = "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics",

issn = "1680-7316",

publisher = "Copernicus Publications",

number = "23",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years

AU - Toohey, M.

AU - Quine, B. M.

AU - Strong, K.

AU - Bernath, P. F.

AU - Boone, C. D.

AU - Jonsson, A. I.

AU - McElroy, C. T.

AU - Walker, K. A.

AU - Wunch, D.

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-11 and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.

AB - Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-11 and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.

KW - MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE MODEL

KW - NITRIC-ACID

KW - VALIDATION

KW - NO2

KW - SASKATCHEWAN

KW - CLIMATOLOGY

KW - RETRIEVALS

KW - EMISSION

KW - DATABASE

KW - TRENDS

M3 - Article

VL - 7

SP - 6075

EP - 6084

JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

JF - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

SN - 1680-7316

IS - 23

ER -