Meridional distributions of NO{sub x}, NO{sub y}, and other species in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere during AASE II

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL01897· OSTI ID:57041

Weinheimer, A J; Walega, J G; Ridley, B A ^[1]; Gary, B L ^[2]; Blake, D R; Blake, N J; Rowland, F S ^[3]; Sachse, G W; Anderson, B E; Collins, J E

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1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)
3. Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

The meridional distribution of NO{sub x} in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere is inferred from 10 flights of the NASA DC-8 in the northern winter of 1992, along with like distributions of NO{sub y}, NO{sub x}/NO{sub y}, CO, and C{sub 2}Cl{sub 4}. In the lowest few km of the stratosphere there is little vertical gradient in NO{sub x} over the range of latitudes measured (40{degrees}-90{degrees}N). There is a substantial latitudinal gradient, with 50 pptv above the pole and 120 pptv near 40{degrees}N. In the uppermost few km of the troposphere, background values range from 30 pptv over the pole to 90 pptv near 40{degrees}N. On two occasions higher values, up to 140 pptv in the mean, were seen 2-3 km below the tropopause in association with frontal systems. The meridional distributions of CO and C{sub 2}Cl{sub 4} show the same feature, suggesting that the source of the elevated NO{sub x} is near the earth`s surface. 10 refs., 7 figs.

• OSTI ID: 57041
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 21; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON MONOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LATITUDE EFFECT
NITROGEN OXIDES
STRATOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE