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AASE‐II in‐situ tracer correlations of methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone as observed aboard the DC‐8
Author(s) -
Collins J. E.,
Sachse G. W.,
Anderson B. E.,
Weinheimer A. J.,
Walega J. G.,
Ridley B. A.
Publication year - 1993
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 - 10.1029/93gl02624
Subject(s) - stratosphere , ozone , atmospheric sciences , tracer , subsidence , nitrous oxide , environmental science , ozone depletion , arctic , altitude (triangle) , methane , mixing ratio , troposphere , meteorology , chemistry , geology , physics , oceanography , geomorphology , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry , structural basin , nuclear physics
We report in situ stratospheric measurements of CH 4 , N 2 O, and O 3 obtained aboard the NASA DC‐8 during the January‐March 1992 A irborne A rctic S tratospheric E xpedition II field campaign. These data demonstrate a strong linear correlation between N 2 O and CH 4 in the lower stratosphere thus indicating that both species are effective tracers of stratospheric air motion. Measurements of both species on constant geometric height surfaces indicate that significant subsidence of the arctic stratospheric air mass occurred at DC‐8 altitudes over the course of the AASE‐II expedition. In addition, a widespread reduction in O 3 mixing ratios (up to 20%) relative to these conserved tracers was also observed in the lower stratosphere in March as compared to January and February results.