Comparisons of long-term stratospheric nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride variations using satellite and ground-based measurements

Conference (2011, November 09)

We investigate the long-term variations of stratospheric nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), based on several satellite and ground-based measurement records. We use results from the Upper ... [more ▼]

We investigate the long-term variations of stratospheric nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), based on several satellite and ground-based measurement records. We use results from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (launched in late 1991 and decommissioned in late 2005), the Aura satellite (launched in summer 1991, with on-going measurements), and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) (from 2004 to present), in conjunction with several long-term ground-based datasets from the Network for the Detection of Atmosphere Composition Change (NDACC). In particular, we investigate the time series of HNO3 and HF, using NDACC column data for validation. We focus here on a few NDACC sites with long-term and frequent measurements, namely the Jungfraujoch (45N, 8E), Lauder (45S, 170E), and Mauna Loa (20N, 204E) sites, where ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) measurements have covered both the UARS and Aura time periods (1991 to present). For HNO3, we investigate whether there are indications of a systematic offset between the measurements by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instruments aboard both UARS and Aura. For hydrogen fluoride, the HALogen Occultation Experiment's HF time series are connected to the ACE-FTS dataset, and we analyze the correlation of this time series with the ground-based datasets. In addition, model runs from the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) and the TOMCAT/SLIMCAT model are used as part of the long-term time series intercomparisons. We note that there is a significant time gap in the HNO3 time series from the satellite measurements used here. The long-term satellite datasets studied here include zonal average Earth Science Data Records (ESDRs) being produced under the Global Ozone Chemistry And Related trace gas Data records for the Stratosphere (GOZCARDS) project, part of the NASA Making Earth Science data records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) program. We also analyze coincident-type measurements, for the comparisons between satellite and ground-based observations. [less ▲]

Validation of HNO3, ClONO2, and N2O5 from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS)

in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2008), 8(13), 3529-3562

The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite was launched on 12 August 2003. Its two instruments measure vertical profiles of over 30 atmospheric trace gases by analyzing solar occultation spectra ... [more ▼]

The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite was launched on 12 August 2003. Its two instruments measure vertical profiles of over 30 atmospheric trace gases by analyzing solar occultation spectra in the ultraviolet/visible and infrared wavelength regions. The reservoir gases HNO3, ClONO2, and N2O5 are three of the key species provided by the primary instrument, the ACE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS). This paper describes the ACE-FTS version 2.2 data products, including the N2O5 update, for the three species and presents validation comparisons with available observations. We have compared volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles of HNO3, ClONO2, and N2O5 with measurements by other satellite instruments (SMR, MLS, MIPAS), aircraft measurements (ASUR), and single balloon-flights (SPIRALE, FIRS-2). Partial columns of HNO3 and ClONO2 were also compared with measurements by ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. Overall the quality of the ACE-FTS v2.2 HNO3 VMR profiles is good from 18 to 35 km. For the statistical satellite comparisons, the mean absolute differences are generally within ±1 ppbv ±20%) from 18 to 35 km. For MIPAS and MLS comparisons only, mean relative differences lie within±10% between 10 and 36 km. ACE-FTS HNO3 partial columns (~15–30 km) show a slight negative bias of −1.3% relative to the ground-based FTIRs at latitudes ranging from 77.8° S–76.5° N. Good agreement between ACE-FTS ClONO2 and MIPAS, using the Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung and Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IMK-IAA) data processor is seen. Mean absolute differences are typically within ±0.01 ppbv between 16 and 27 km and less than +0.09 ppbv between 27 and 34 km. The ClONO2 partial column comparisons show varying degrees of agreement, depending on the location and the quality of the FTIR measurements. Good agreement was found for the comparisons with the midlatitude Jungfraujoch partial columns for which the mean relative difference is 4.7%. ACE-FTS N2O5 has a low bias relative to MIPAS IMK-IAA, reaching −0.25 ppbv at the altitude of the N2O5 maximum (around 30 km). Mean absolute differences at lower altitudes (16–27 km) are typically −0.05 ppbv for MIPAS nighttime and ±0.02 ppbv for MIPAS daytime measurements. [less ▲]

Validation of ACE-FTS v2.2 methane profiles from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere

in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2008), 9(9), 2421-2435

The ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment – Fourier Transform Spectrometer) solar occultation instrument that was launched onboard the Canadian SCISAT-1 satellite in August 2003 is measuring vertical ... [more ▼]

The ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment – Fourier Transform Spectrometer) solar occultation instrument that was launched onboard the Canadian SCISAT-1 satellite in August 2003 is measuring vertical profiles from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere for a large number of atmospheric constituents. Methane is one of the key species. The version v2.2 data of the ACE-FTS CH4 data have been compared to correlative satellite, balloon-borne and ground-based Fourier transform infrared remote sensing data to assess their quality. The comparison results indicate that the accuracy of the data is within 10% in the upper troposphere – lower stratosphere, and within 25% in the middle and higher stratosphere up to the lower mesosphere (<60 km). The observed differences are generally consistent with reported systematic uncertainties. ACE-FTS is also shown to reproduce the variability of methane in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere. [less ▲]