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Measured HDO/H 2 O ratios across the tropical tropopause
Author(s) -
Kuang Zhiming,
Toon Geoffrey C.,
Wennberg Paul O.,
Yung Yuk L.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2003gl017023
Subject(s) - stratosphere , troposphere , tropopause , mixing ratio , water vapor , altitude (triangle) , atmospheric sciences , trace gas , environmental science , convection , physics , meteorology , geometry , mathematics
We present the first simultaneous measurements of HDO and H 2 O in the tropical upper troposphere (UT) and lower stratosphere (LS) as derived from infrared solar absorption spectra acquired by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment. We find, surprisingly, that the observed HDO/H 2 O ratio does not decrease with altitude in this region despite a factor of 4–5 decrease in the water vapor mixing ratio. This observation is inconsistent with the view that dehydration in the tropical UT/LS is by gradual processes, and suggests a major role by convective processes.