Validation of ACE-FTS N2O measurements

in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2008), 8(16), 4759-4786

The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), also known as SCISAT, was launched on 12 August 2003, carrying two instruments that measure vertical profiles of atmospheric constituents using the solar ... [more ▼]

The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), also known as SCISAT, was launched on 12 August 2003, carrying two instruments that measure vertical profiles of atmospheric constituents using the solar occultation technique. One of these instruments, the ACE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), is measuring volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere at a vertical resolution of about 3-4 km. In this study, the quality of the ACE-FTS version 2.2 N2O data is assessed through comparisons with coincident measurements made by other satellite, balloon-borne, aircraft, and ground-based instruments. These consist of vertical profile comparisons with the SMR, MLS, and MIPAS satellite instruments, multiple aircraft flights of ASUR, and single balloon flights of SPIRALE and FIRS-2, and partial column comparisons with a network of ground-based Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometers (FTIRs). Between 6 and 30 km, the mean absolute differences for the satellite comparisons lie between -42 ppbv and +17 ppbv, with most within +/- 20 ppbv. This corresponds to relative deviations from the mean that are within +/- 15%, except for comparisons with MIPAS near 30 km, for which they are as large as 22.5%. Between 18 and 30 km, the mean absolute differences for the satellite comparisons are generally within +/- 10 ppbv. From 30 to 60 km, the mean absolute differences are within +/- 4 ppbv, and are mostly between -2 and +1 ppbv. Given the small N2O VMR in this region, the relative deviations from the mean are therefore large at these altitudes, with most suggesting a negative bias in the ACE-FTS data between 30 and 50 km. In the comparisons with the FTIRs, the mean relative differences between the ACE-FTS and FTIR partial columns (which cover a mean altitude range of 14 to 27 km) are within +/- 5.6% for eleven of the twelve contributing stations. This mean relative difference is negative at ten stations, suggesting a small negative bias in the ACE-FTS partial columns over the altitude regions compared. Excellent correlation (R=0.964) is observed between the ACE-FTS and FTIR partial columns, with a slope of 1.01 and an intercept of -0.20 on the line fitted to the data. [less ▲]

A global inventory of stratospheric chlorine in 2004

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres (2006), 111(D22), 22312

[1] Total chlorine (Cl-TOT) in the stratosphere has been determined using the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) measurements of HCl, ClONO2, CH3Cl, CCl4, CCl3F (CFC ... [more ▼]

[1] Total chlorine (Cl-TOT) in the stratosphere has been determined using the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) measurements of HCl, ClONO2, CH3Cl, CCl4, CCl3F (CFC-11), CCl2F2 (CFC-12), CHClF2 (HCFC-22), CCl2FCClF2 (CFC-113), CH3CClF2 (HCFC-142b), COClF, and ClO supplemented by data from several other sources, including both measurements and models. Separate chlorine inventories were carried out in five latitude zones (60 degrees - 82 degrees N, 30 degrees - 60 degrees N, 30 degrees S - 30 degrees N, 30 degrees - 60 degrees S, and 60 degrees - 82 degrees S), averaging the period of February 2004 to January 2005 inclusive, when possible, to deal with seasonal variations. The effect of diurnal variation was avoided by only using measurements taken at local sunset. Mean stratospheric Cl-TOT values of 3.65 ppbv were determined for both the northern and southern midlatitudes (with an estimated 1 sigma accuracy of +/- 0.13 ppbv and a precision of +/- 0.09 ppbv), accompanied by a slightly lower value in the tropics and slightly higher values at high latitudes. Stratospheric Cl-TOT profiles in all five latitude zones are nearly linear with a slight positive slope in ppbv/km. Both the observed slopes and pattern of latitudinal variation can be interpreted as evidence of the beginning of a decline in global stratospheric chlorine, which is qualitatively consistent with the mean stratospheric circulation pattern and time lag necessary for transport. [less ▲]

Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE): Mission overview

in Geophysical Research Letters (2005), 32(15),

SCISAT-1, also known as the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment ( ACE), is a Canadian satellite mission for remote sensing of the Earth's atmosphere. It was launched into low Earth circular orbit ( altitude ... [more ▼]

SCISAT-1, also known as the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment ( ACE), is a Canadian satellite mission for remote sensing of the Earth's atmosphere. It was launched into low Earth circular orbit ( altitude 650 km, inclination 74 degrees) on 12 Aug. 2003. The primary ACE instrument is a high spectral resolution (0.02 cm(-1)) Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) operating from 2.2 to 13.3 mm ( 750 - 4400 cm(-1)). The satellite also features a dual spectrophotometer known as MAESTRO with wavelength coverage of 285 - 1030 nm and spectral resolution of 1 - 2 nm. A pair of filtered CMOS detector arrays records images of the Sun at 0.525 and 1.02 mu m. Working primarily in solar occultation, the satellite provides altitude profile information ( typically 10 - 100 km) for temperature, pressure, and the volume mixing ratios for several dozen molecules of atmospheric interest, as well as atmospheric extinction profiles over the latitudes 85 degrees N to 85 degrees S. This paper presents a mission overview and some of the first scientific results. [less ▲]