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Zander, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Zander, R..

At least 55 records · Page 3

H2SO4 photolysis: A souce of sulfur dioxide in the upper stratosphere

Numerous absoption lines of stratospheric sulfer dioxide (SO2) were identified in solar occulation spectra recorded by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS)-1 shuttle mission (March 24-April 2, 1992). based on their analysis, a volume mixing ratio profile of SO2 increasing from (13 +/- 4) p.p.t.v. (parts per 10(exp -12) by volume) at 16 mbar (approximately 28 km) to 455 +/- 90 p.p.t.v. at 0.63 mbar (approximately 52 km) was measured with no significant profile differences between 20 deg N and 60 deg S latitude. The increase in the SO2 mixing ratios with altitude indicates the presence of a source of SO2 in the upper stratosphere. Profiles retrieved from ATMOS spectra recorded during shuttle flights in April-May 1985 and April 1993 show similar vertical distributions but lower concentrations. Two-dimensional model calculations with SO2 assumed as the end product of H2SO4 photolysis produce SO2 profiles consistent with the ATMOS measuremnts to within about a factor 2.

Rinsland, C. P.

Stratospheric and mesospheric pressure-temperature profiles from rotational analysis of CO2 lines in atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy/ATLAS 1 infrared solar occultation spectra

A simple, classical, and expedient method for the retrieval of atmospheric pressure-temperature profiles has been applied to the high-resolution infrared solar absorption spectra obtained with the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument. The basis for this method is a rotational analysis of retrieved apparent abundances from CO2 rovibrational absorption lines, employing existing constituent concentration retrieval software used in the analysis of data returned by ATMOS. Pressure-temperature profiles derived from spectra acquired during the ATLAS 1 space shuttle mission of March-April 1992 are quantitatively evaluated and compared with climatological and meteorological data as a means of assessing the validity of this approach.

Stiller, G. P.

Validation of stratospheric ozone observed by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment during 1992

Measurements of stratospheric ozone were made by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment from onboard the Space Shuttle during the period 8-16 April 1992. The precision and accuracy of the measurements are discussed in the context of establishing the accuracy and compatibility of the measurements relative to other space-based measurements of ozone. Coincident measurements were obtained from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) 2 instrument onboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and three instruments, the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), the Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES), the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) onboard the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS). Three of the instruments, ATMOS, SAGE-2 and MLS are demonstrated to be consistent to within +10% over the altitude range between 100 hPa and 0.5 hPa (approximately 20 to 60 km), with ATMOS and MLS displaying a zero mean bias and a root mean square deviation (rms) of 3% and SAGE-2 displaying an essentially systematic bias of -5% over the majority of the altitude range, except for below 30 hPa where SAGE-2 displays a large positive systematic bias due to the effect of the aerosol attenuation resulting from the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991. The comparison with HALOE indicates that ozone levels observed by ATMOS are systematically higher than HALOE by 5 to 25% with a clear gradient in the differences; in contrast the comparison with CLAES displays differences of as much as + 30% with no obvious systematic scaling possible. Comparisons are evaluated in two separate schemes, by geographical coincidence and through zonal averages which illustrate the limitations of both schemes. Latitudinal and longitudinal variation are used to assess the sensitivity of the ATMOS measurements and to confirm the precision and accuracy, which should be less than 4% and 10% respectively.

Abrams, M. C.

Mid-infrared extinction by sulfate aerosols from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption

Quantitative measurements of the wavelength dependence of aerosol extinction in the 750-3400/cm spectral region have been derived from 0.01/cm resolution stratospheric solar occultation spectra recorded by the ATMOS (Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy) Fourier transform spectrometer about 9 1/2 months after the Mt Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Strong, broad aerosol features have been identified near 900, 1060, 1190, 1720, and 2900/cm below a tangent height of approximately 30 km. Aerosol extinction measurements derived from approximately 0.05/cm wide microwindows nearly free of telluric line absorption in the ATMOS spectra are compared with transmission calculations derived from aerosol size distribution profiles retrieved from correlative SAGE (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment) II visible and near i.r. extinction measurements, seasonal and zonally averaged H2SO4 aerosol weight percentage profiles, and published sulfuric acid optical constants derived from room temperature laboratory measurements. The calculated shapes and positions of the aerosol features are generally consistent with the observations, thereby confirming that the aerosols are predominantly concentrated H2SO4-H2O droplets, but there are significant differences between the measured and calculated wavelength dependences of the aerosol extinction. We attribute these differences as primarily the result of errors in the calculated low temperature H2SO4-H2O optical constants. Errors in both the published room temperature optical constants and the limitations of the Lorentz-Lorenz relation are likely to be important.

Rinsland, C. P.

Increase in Levels of Stratospheric Chlorine and Fluorine Loading between 1985 and 1992

Mixing ratios of 3.44 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) and 1.23 ppbv for HCl and HF above 50 km, surrogates for total chlorine and fluorine, have been measured by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment on a March 1992 flight of the Space Shuttle. Compared to the measured values obtained on a 1985 flight, these correspond to a 37% and 62% increase for HCl and HF, respectively. The derived trend in HCl (approx. 0.13 ppbv per year) is in good agreement with the model-predicted increase in chlorine loading of 0.13 ppbv per year, and with the measured trends in HCl total column abundance from reported ground-based observations. The main source of this change can be attributed to the release of man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) and hydro-chloro-fluoro-carbons (HCFC's). This new value for HCl represents an upper limit to the inorganic chlorine concentration in the stratosphere available for participation in photochemical processes which destroy ozone.

Gunson, M. R.

Profiles of stratospheric chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) from atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy/ATLAS 1 infrared solar occultation spectra

Stratospheric volume mixing ratio profiles of chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) have been retrieved from 0.01/cm resolution infrared solar occultation spectra recorded at latitudes between 14 deg N and 54 deg S by the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy Fourier transform spectrometer during the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) 1 shuttle mission (March 24 to April 2, 1992). The results were obtained from nonlinear least squares fittings of the ClONO2 nu(sub 4) band Q branch at 780.21/cm with improved spectroscopic parameters generated on the basis of recent laboratory work. The individual profiles, which have an accuracy of about +/- 20%, are compared with previous observations and model calculations.

Rinsland, C. P.

Increase of carbonyl fluoride (COF2) in the stratosphere and its contribution to the 1992 budget of inorganic fluorine in the upper stratosphere

Volume mixing ratio profiles of COF2 have been derived through most of the stratosphere between 30 deg N and 54 deg S from series of 0.01-/cm resolution infrared solar spectra recorded in the occultation mode by the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument during the ATLAS 1 space shuttle mission of March-April 1992. When compared with similar results obtained from the ATMOS/Spacelab 3 mission of April-May 1985, the cumulative increase in the burden of COF2 in the middle and upper stratosphere was found to be 67% for that 7-year time interval. By combining a subset of these COF2 results with upper stratospheric concentrations of HF also derived from the ATMOS observations, it was further found that the budget of inorganic fluorine above 35 km altitude increased by (60 +/- 10)% over the 1985-1992 time interval, which corresponds to an average exponential rate of increase of (6.7 +/- 1/1)%/yr, or a linear rate of increase reference to 1985 of (8.5 +/- 1.3)%/yr at the 1 sigma confidence level. The total inorganic F atom volume mixing ratio found in the upper stratosphere for 1985 and 1992 and the increase during this perid mirror the rise in man-made fluorine-bearing compounds at the ground during the early to mid 1980s. This demonstrates the negligible impact of natural sources of fluorine, in particular volcanic activity, on the observed change in F in the upper stratosphere. Implications of the present findings and comparison with model results are discussed.

Zander, R.

Secular trend and seasonal variability of the column abundance of N2O above the Jungfraujoch station determined from IR solar spectra

Infrared solar spectra recorded at the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch (3580 m altitude), Switzerland, in 1950-1951 and from 1984 to 1992 have been analyzed to determine vertical column abundances of nitrous oxide (N2O) above the station. The best fit to the relatively dense set of measurements made between 1984 and 1992 indicates a mean exponential rate of increase equal to 0.36 +/- 0.06%/yr (1 sigma) and a seasonal modulation of 7.2% peak to peak, the minimum occurring at the end of the winter and the maximum in early September. The column abundances for April of the years 1951, 1984, and 1992 were found equal to 3.49 x 10(exp 18), 3.76 x 10(exp 18), and 3.87 x 10(exp 18) molecules/sq cm, respectively; they translate into N2O concentrations at the altitude of the Jungfraujoch equal to 275, 296, and 305 parts per billion by volume. These results indicate that the exponential rate of increase for 1951-1984 was equal to 0.23 +/- 0.04%/yr (1 sigma), thus substantially lower than for the 1984-1992 time interval and that the so-called preindustrial levels of N2O pertained until 1951 with most of the increase in atmospheric N2O occurring thereafter.

Zander, R.

Increase of carbonyl fluoride (COF2) in the stratosphere and its contribution to the 1992 budget of inorganic fluorine in the upper stratosphere

Volume mixing ratio profiles of COF2 have been derived through most of the stratosphere between 30 deg N and 54 deg S from series of 0.01-cm(exp -1) resolution infrared solar spectra recorded in the occultation mode by the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument during the ATLAS 1 space shuttle mission of March-April 1992. When compared with similar results obtained from the ATMOS/Spacelab 3 mission of April-May 1985, the cumulative increase in the burden of COF2 in the middle and upper stratosphere was found to be 67% for that 7-year time interval. By combining a subset of these COF2 results with upper stratospheric concentrations of HF also derived from the ATMOS observations, it was further found that the budget of inorganic fluorine above 35 km altitude increased by (60 +/- 10) % over the 1985-1992 time interval, which corresponds to an average exponential rate of increase of(6.7 +/- 1.1) % /yr , or a linear rate of increase referenced to 1985 of (8.5 +/- 1.3) % /yr at the 1(sigma) confidence level. The total inorganic F atom volume mixing ratio found in the upper stratosphere for 1985 and 1992 and the increase during this period mirror the rise in man-made fluorine-bearing compounds at the ground during the early to mid 1980s. This demonstrates the negligible impact of natural sources of fluorine, in particular volcanic activity, on the observed change of F in the upper stratosphere. Implications of the present findings and comparison with model results are discussed.

Zander, R.

Heterogeneous conversion of N2O5 to HNO3 in the post-Mount Pinatubo eruption stratosphere

Simultaneous stratospheric volume mixing ration (VMR) profiles of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) and nitric acid (HNO3) at sunrise between 25 deg N and 15 deg S latitude and profiles of HNO3 at sunset between 42 deg S and 53 deg S latitude have been derived from 0.01/cm resolution infrared solar occultation spectra recorded 9.5 months after the massive eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano in the Philippine Islands. The measurements were obtained by the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the ATLAS 1 shuttle mission (March 24 to April 2, 1992). The measured HNO3 VMRs are higher at all altitudes and latitudes than corresponding values measured by the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) instrument during the same season in 1979, when the aerosol loading was near background levels. The largest relative increase in the HNO3 VMR occurred near the equator at 30-km altitude, where the ATMOS/ATLAS 1 values are about a factor of 2 higher than the LIMS measurements. Two-dimensional model calculations show that the increase in HNO3 and the ATMOS/ATLAS 1 measurement of a steep decrease in the N2O5 VMR below 30 km can be explained by the enhanced conversion of N2O5 to HNO3 on the surfaces of the Mount Pinatubo sulfate aerosols. Our profile results demonstrate the global impact of the N2O5 + H2O yields 2HNO3 heterogeneous reaction in altering the partitioning of stratospheric odd nitrogen after a major volcanic eruption.

Rinsland, C. P.

Secular evolution of the vertical column abundances of CHClF2 (HCFC-22) in the Earth's atmosphere inferred from ground-based IR solar observations at the Jungfraujoch and at Kitt Peak, and comparison with model calculations

Series of high-resolution infrared solar spectra recorded at the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, between 06/1986 and 11/1992, and at Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tucson, Arizona (U.S.A.), from 12/1980 to 04/1992, have been analyzed to provide a comprehensive ensemble of vertical column abundances of CHClF2 (HCFC-22; Freon-22) above the European and the North American continents. The columns were derived from nonlinear least-squares curve fittings between synthetic spectra and the observations containing the unresolved 2 nu(sub 6) Q-branch absorption of CHClF2 at 829.05/cm. The changes versus time observed in these columns were modeled assuming both an exponential and a linear increase with time. The exponential rates of increase at one-sigma uncertainties were found equal to (7.0 +/- 0.35)%/yr for the Junfraujoch data and (7.0 +/- 0.23)%/yr for the Kitt Peak data. The exponential trend of 7.0%/yr found at both stations widely separated in location can be considered as representative of the global increase of the CHClF2 burden in the Earth's atmosphere during the period 1980 to 1992. When assuming two realistic vertical volume mixing ratio profiles for CHClF2 in the troposphere, one quasi constant and the other decreasing by about 13% from the ground to the tropopause, the concentrations for mid-1990 were found to lie between 97 and 111 pptv (parts per trillion by volume) at the 3.58 km altitude of the Jungfraujoch and between 97 and 103 pptv at Kitt Peak, 2.09 km above sea level. Corresponding values derived from calculations using a high vertical resolution-2D model and recently compiled HCFC-22 releases to the atmosphere, were equal to 107 and 105 pptv, respectively, in excellent agreement with the measurements. The model calculated lifetime of CHClF2 was found equal to 15.6 years. The present results are compared critically with similar data found in the literature. On average, the concentrations found here are lower by 15-20% than those derived from in situ investigations; this difference cannot be explained by the absolute uncertainty of +/- 11% assigned presently to the infrared remote measurements.

Zander, R.

Pressure Sounding of the Middle Atmosphere from ATMOS Solar Occultation Measurements of Atmospheric CO(sub 2) Absorption Lines

A method for retrieving the atmospheric pressure corresponding to the tangent point of an infrared spectrum recorded in the solar occultation mode is described and applied to measurements made by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer. Tangent pressure values are inferred from measurements of isolated CO(sub 2) lines with temperature-insensitive intensities. Tangent pressures are determined with a spectroscopic precision of 1-3%, corresponding to a tangent point height precision, depending on the scale height, of 70-210 meters.

Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy ATMOS atmo

Profiles of Stratospheric Chlorine Nitrate from ATMOS/ATLAS 1 Infrared Solar Occultation Spectra

Stratospheric volume mixing ration profiles of chlorine nitrate have been retrieved from 0.01-cm(sub -1) resolution infrared solar occutation spectra recorded at latitudes between 14 degrees N and 54 degrees S by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the ATLAS 1 shuttle mission (March 24 to April 2, 1992).

chlorine nitrate ATMOS/ATLAS spectroscopic paramet

ATMOS/ATLAS 1 measurements of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere

Vertical profiles of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere have been retrieved from 0.01/cm resolution infrared solar occultation spectra recorded by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the ATLAS (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) 1 shuttle mission of March 24 to April 2, 1992. Based on measurements of the unresolved absorption by the SF6 mu(sub 3) band Q branch at 947.9/cm, average SF6 volume mixing ratios and 1-sigma uncertainties of 3.20 +/- 0.54 parts per trillion by volume (pptv; 10(exp -12) ppv) at 200 mbar (approximately 11.8 km) declining to 2.86 +/- 0.29 pptv at 100 mbar (approximately 16.2 km) and 1.95 +/- 0.50 pptv at 30 mbar (approximately 23.9 km) have been retrieved. The profiles show no obvious dependence with latitude over the range of the measurements (eight occultations spanning 28 deg S to 54 deg S). Assuming an exponential growth model and applying a correction for the interhemispheric concentration difference, an average SF6 rate of increase of 8.7 +/- 2.2% per year, 2 sigma, between 12 and 18 km has been derived by fitting the present measurements, ATMOS measurements from the April-May 1985 Spacelab 3 mission, and balloon-borne IR measurements obtained in March 1981 and June 1988.

Rinsland, C. P.