Premium
The hydrogen budget of the stratosphere inferred from ATMOS measurements of H 2 O and CH 4
Author(s) -
Abbas M. M.,
Gunson M. R.,
Newchurch M. J.,
Michelsen H. A.,
Salawitch R. J.,
Allen M.,
Abrams M. C.,
Chang A. Y.,
Goldman A.,
Irion F. W.,
Moyer E. J.,
Nagaraju R.,
Rinsland C. P.,
Stiller G. P.,
Zander R.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl01320
Subject(s) - stratosphere , mesosphere , altitude (triangle) , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , mixing ratio , hydrogen , environmental science , atmospheric chemistry , trace gas , physics , analytical chemistry (journal) , meteorology , chemistry , ozone , environmental chemistry , quantum mechanics , geometry , mathematics
The total hydrogen budget of the stratosphere and lower mesosphere has been examined using vertical mixing ratio profiles of H 2 O and CH 4 measured by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment from four space shuttle missions. The oxidation of CH 4 and H 2 is investigated by evaluating the quantity H (=H 2 O + 2 CH 4 ) entering the stratosphere, and examining its conservation with altitude in the upper atmosphere. Data from all four ATMOS missions indicate H to be nearly conserved in the lower stratosphere and to exhibit a broad maximum in the 35‐ to 65‐km range. The observations provide evidence of a secondary source of H 2 O from H 2 oxidation at altitudes from 35 to 55 km, and net production of H 2 at altitudes above ∼55 km. ATMOS measurements of H 2 O and CH 4 permit the first evaluation of a sickle‐shaped vertical profile of H 2 that is qualitatively consistent with profiles calculated using two‐dimensional models.