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Tropospheric and lower stratospheric vertical profiles of ethane and acetylene
Author(s) -
Cronn Dagmar,
Robinson Elmer
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i008p00641
Subject(s) - stratosphere , tropopause , troposphere , acetylene , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , chemistry , geology , organic chemistry
The first known vertical distributions of ethane and acetylene which extend into the lower stratosphere are reported. The average upper tropospheric concentrations, between 20,000 ft (6 km) and 35,000 ft (11 km), near 37°N ‐ 123°W were 1.2 µg/m³ (1.0 ppb) for ethane and 0.24 µg/m³ (0.23 ppb) for acetylene while the values near 9°N ‐ 80°W were 0.95 µg/m³ (0.77 ppb) and 0.09 µg/m³ (0.09 ppb), respectively. Detectable quantities of both ethane and acetylene are present in the lower stratosphere. There is a sharp decrease in the levels of these two compounds as one crosses the tropopause and ascends into the lower stratosphere. The observed levels of ethane and acetylene may allow some impact on the background chemistry of the troposphere and stratosphere.