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A Near‐Global Atmospheric Distribution of N 2 O Isotopologues
Author(s) -
Bernath Peter F.,
Yousefi Mahdi,
Buzan Eric,
Boone Chris D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl075122
Subject(s) - isotopologue , stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , isotopomers , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , atmospheric chemistry , northern hemisphere , atmosphere of earth , latitude , isotope , physics , ozone , meteorology , spectral line , nuclear physics , astronomy
The distributions of the four most abundant isotopologues and isotopomers (N 2 O, 15 NNO, N 15 NO, and NN 18 O) of nitrous oxide have been measured in the Earth's stratosphere by infrared remote sensing with the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) Fourier transform spectrometer. These satellite observations have provided a near‐global picture of N 2 O isotopic fractionation. The relative abundances of the heavier species increase with altitude and with latitude in the stratosphere as the air becomes older. The heavy isotopologues are enriched by 20–30% in the upper stratosphere and even more over the poles. These observations are in general agreement with model predictions made with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). A detailed 3‐D chemical transport model is needed to account for the global isotopic distributions of N 2 O and to infer sources and sinks.