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Tropospheric distribution and variability of N 2 O: Evidence for strong tropical emissions
Author(s) -
Kort E. A.,
Patra P. K.,
Ishijima K.,
Daube B. C.,
Jiménez R.,
Elkins J.,
Hurst D.,
Moore F. L.,
Sweeney C.,
Wofsy S. C.
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1029/2011gl047612
Subject(s) - troposphere , subtropics , atmospheric sciences , tropics , latitude , altitude (triangle) , environmental science , climatology , middle latitudes , geology , geometry , mathematics , geodesy , fishery , biology
Measurements of atmospheric N 2 O spanning altitudes from the surface to 14 km, and latitudes from 67°S to 85°N, show high concentrations in the tropics and subtropics, with strong maxima in the middle and upper troposphere. The pattern varies significantly over time scales of a few weeks. Global simulations do not accurately capture observed distributions with latitude, altitude, or time. Inversion results indicate strong, episodic inputs of nitrous oxide from tropical regions (as large as 1 Tg N‐N 2 O over 9 weeks) are necessary to produce observed vertical and latitudinal distributions. These findings highlight strong tropical sources of N 2 O with high temporal variability, and the necessity of using full vertical profile observations in deriving emissions from atmospheric measurements.