Ground-based FTIR Measurements from a Series of European sites during the Winter of 1995/96 and a Comparison with a 3D Chemical Transport Model: Evidence of Chlorine Activation and Ozone depletion

Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) measurements of stratospheric trace species have been made at a network of five ground-based sites from 79°N to 47°N during the Northern hemisphere winter of 1995/1996. This winter was extremely cold with temperatures below the threshold for type 1 polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation from mid December 1995 until early March 1996 when there was a rapid warming of the stratosphere. Over 25 days experienced temperatures low enough for ice cloud (PSC type 2) formation. Vertical columns values for HCl, ClONO2, HF and HNO3 have been derived from FTIR measurements at the following sites: Ny Alesund, Spitzbergen (79°N, 12°E); Kiruna, Sweden (67°N, 21°E); Harestua, Norway (60°N, 11°E); London, England (51°N, 0°E) and the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (48°N, 8°E), with measurements of other stratospheric trace gases, including O3 and ClO available from some of the sites. All of these sites are equipped with high resolution Bruker 120HR or 120M spectrometers, recording atmospheric spectra in the mid infrared using the Sun as a source. These measurements have been used to provide both evidence of substantial activation within large areas of the polar vortex and a subsequent O3 depletion. The measurements suggest a well mixed central vortex area surrounded by a vortex edge that may be highly variable in composition. The measurements also provide evidence of substantial mixing of activated air from the edge of the polar vortex into middle latitudes. Comparison with the SLIMCAT 3D chemical transport model highlights the underestimation of ClONO2 concentrations in the model, with subsequent implications for underestimating O3 loss.