[en] We characterize the spring and fall stratospheric distribution of CO at 49 degrees N-55 degrees S latitude from ATMOS profiles measured during 4 shuttle flights, Measured mixing ratios increase with potential temperature (theta) from 12 ppbv (10(-9) per unit volume) at 525 K, to 30-40 ppbv at 1750 K with only minor variations with latitude and season at a theta level. Evidence for some confinement near 1150 K in the developing November 1994 vortex is indicated from comparison of CO and N2O horizontal gradients. Measured CO mixing ratios at the tropical tropopause are a factor of 10 higher than values calculated with a steady-state model using standard photochemistry constrained by correlative temperatures and pressures, and ATMOS measurements including CH4 as inputs, Differences decrease with latitude at constant theta and are <20% at 800 K and all latitudes, where the CO photochemical lifetime is 40-50 days.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Rinsland, C. P.
Salawitch, R. J.
Osterman, G. B.
Irion, F. W.
Sen, B.
Zander, Rodolphe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté des sciences) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Sciences)
Mahieu, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Groupe infra-rouge de phys. atmosph. et solaire (GIRPAS)
Gunson, M. R.
Language :
English
Title :
Stratospheric CO at tropical and mid-latitudes: ATMOS measurements and photochemical steady-state model calculations
Publication date :
01 May 2000
Journal title :
Geophysical Research Letters
ISSN :
0094-8276
eISSN :
1944-8007
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
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