High-resolution photoabsorption cross-section measurements of so 2 at 160 K between 199 and 220 nm

Abstract

Photoabsorption cross sections of sulfur dioxide over a range of temperatures are required to interpret observations and to support models of the atmospheres of Io and Venus. We report high-resolution (λ/Δ≈ 450,000) photoabsorption cross-section measurements by Fourier transform spectrometry of SO2 at 160 K in the wavelength region 199 to 220 nm, which encompasses the strongest features in the prominent C1B 2 -X1A1 system. Our results are compared with literature values obtained at lower resolutions and with 295 K cross sections recorded earlier with the same instrument. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.