Open AccessFeatures and trends in Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) version 3 stratospheric water vapor and methane measurements
Author(s) -
Michelsen H. A.,
Irion F. W.,
Manney G. L.,
Toon G. C.,
Gunson M. R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jd900336
Subject(s) - trace gas , water vapor , stratosphere , mixing ratio , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , methane , tropics , spectroscopy , atmosphere (unit) , climatology , meteorology , chemistry , physics , geology , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , fishery , biology
Mixing ratios of water vapor entering the stratosphere are inferred from Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) measurements to be 3.28 ppm in 1985, 3.53 ppm in 1992, 3.67 ppm in 1993, and 3.65 ppm in 1994, yielding an average increase of 0.041±0.007 (1σ) ppm/yr or 1.2±0.2%/yr between 1985 and 1994. Strong evidence for a seasonal cycle in water vapor is apparent below 45km in the tropics, and ascent rates derived from these tropical profiles are comparable to previous estimates. An enhancement in the sum [H 2 O]+2[CH 4 ] apparent between 45 and 60km in the tropics appears to be consistent with remnants of a seasonal cycle in [H 2 O].