Measurement of methane and other light hydrocarbons in the troposphere and lower stratosphere

Journal Article · Fri Mar 20 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD092iD03p03135· OSTI ID:6864438

Aikin, A C; Gallagher, C C; Spicer, C W; Holdren, M W

The volume mixing ratios of methane, acetylene, ethane, and propane were measured in the troposphere and stratosphere on April 5, 1984, at 33/sup 0/N, over New Mexico, using the technique of grab sampling by evacuated spheres on a balloon platform. Following recovery, analysis was carried out in the laboratory. The evacuated sphere technique was also employed to obtain a tropospheric sample from Catherine peak, New Mexico (2.86 km altitude). Tropospheric volume mixing ratios were CH/sub 4/, 1.59 ppm; C/sub 2/H/sub 2/, 358 ppt (parts per trillion); C/sub 2/H/sub 6/, 365 ppt; and C/sub 3/H /sub 8/, 1440 ppt. ln the stratosphere, acetylene was 60 ppt. For ethane and propane the mixing ratios at 11.6 km were 441 ppt and 84 ppt, respectively. Copyright American Geophysical Union 1987

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 6864438
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:D3; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACETYLENE
AIRSHIPS
ALKANES
ALKYNES
BALLOONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ETHANE
FEDERAL REGION VI
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MIXING RATIO
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROPANE
STRATOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE
USA