Stratospheric profiles of heavy water vapor isotopes and CH sub 3 D from analysis of the ATMOS Spacelab 3 infrared solar spectra

Journal Article · Sun Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90JD02234· OSTI ID:5513339

Rinsland, C P ^[1]; Gunson, M R; Foster, J C; Toth, R A; Farmer, C B ^[2]; Zander, R ^[3]

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1. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)
2. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)
3. Univ. of Liege (Belgium)

Stratospheric volume mixing ratio profiles of H{sub 2}{sup 18}O, H{sub 2}{sup 17}O, HDO, and CH{sub 3}D near latitudes of 30{degree}N and 47{degree}S have been retrieved from {approximately}0.01-cm{sup {minus}1} resolution infrared solar occultation spectra recorded by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the Spacelab 3 shuttle mission (April 29 to May 6, 1985). Improved heavy isotope water vapor and CH{sub 3}D spectroscopic parameters determined from {approximately}0.005- to 0.01-cm{sup {minus}1} resolution room temperature laboratory spectra have been used in the retrievals. The profiles of the three water vapor isotopes show an increase in the volume mixing ratio with altitude over the range of measurements (20 to 54 km for H{sub 2}{sup 18}O, 20 to 46 km for H{sub 2}{sup 17}O, and 20 to 34 km for HDO). Deuterium-to-hydrogen and heavy-to-normal oxygen isotope ratio profiles have been calculated by dividing the retrieved isotopic profiles by the previously reported profiles of H{sub 2}{sup 16}O and CH{sub 4} obtained from the same spectral data and then referencing these results to the isotopic composition of standard mean ocean water (SMOW). At 20 km the {sup 18}O/{sup 16}O ratio in H{sub 2}O is slightly depleted relative to SMOW; this ratio increases with altitude and is slightly positive above 36 km. The {sup 17}O/{sup 16}O water vapor results are similar to those for {sup 18}O/{sup 16}O. The ATMOS measurements show depletions of 63% in the D/H content of water vapor near 20 km and an increase in this ratio with altitude up to 34 km. The D/H ratio in stratospheric methane is close to the isotopic ratio in SMOW over the 18 to 28 km altitude range. No differences between the water vapor or methane isotopic compositions at the two latitudes were detected.

• OSTI ID: 5513339
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 96:D1; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
METHANE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ISOTOPE RATIO
STRATOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
WATER VAPOR
ALTITUDE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEUTERIUM
INFRARED RADIATION
LATITUDE EFFECT
OXYGEN 16
OXYGEN 17
OXYGEN 18
SEAWATER
SPECTROSCOPY
ALKANES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
RADIATIONS
STABLE ISOTOPES
VAPORS
VARIATIONS
WATER
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)