Simultaneous balloonborne measurements of stratospheric water vapor and ozone in the polar regions

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL01301· OSTI ID:5406556

Hofmann, D J; Oltmans, S J ^[1]; Deshler, T ^[2]

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1. NOAA, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (United States)

Vertical profiles of stratospheric water vapor and ozone were measured together at McMurdo and South Pole Stations in Antarctica, and at Kiruna, Sweden, on several occasions during the austral spring of 1990 and the boreal winter of 1991. The Antarctic data indicated that major dehydration had occurred on a continental scale over the winter stratospheric cloud formation period leaving only 2 to 3 ppmv water vapor between 11 and 19 km. Measurements before and after movement of the boundary of the polar vortex across McMurdo detected increases in both water vapor and ozone in the 17 to 20 km region. This injected layer was still observed at South Pole Station a month later suggesting continental proportions. In early November, with the vortex still intact, South Pole measurements indicated a substantial degree of inhomogeneity in both water vapor and ozone in the lower stratosphere. In comparison, stratospheric water vapor measurements in the Arctic gave values of 4 to 5 ppmv indicating the absence of the gross stratospheric dehydration effects obvious in the Antarctic, and they did not reveal significant structure except on one occasion with very cold temperatures ({minus}90C) at 25 km and nacreous cloud displays.

• OSTI ID: 5406556
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:6; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
CLOUDS
DEHYDRATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EUROPE
FLUIDS
GASES
LAYERS
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
POLAR REGIONS
SCANDINAVIA
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STRATOSPHERE
SWEDEN
VAPORS
VARIATIONS
VORTICES
WATER VAPOR