Low-resolution atmospheric thermal emission spectra collected by balloon-borne radiometers over the time span of 1990-2002 are used to retrieve vertical profiles of HNO3, CFC-Il and CFC-12 volume mixing ratios between approximately 10 and 35 km altitude. All of the data analyzed have been collected from launches from a Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude site, during late summer, when stratospheric dynamic variability is at a minimum. The retrieval technique incorporates detailed forward modeling of the instrument and the radiative properties of the atmosphere, and obtains a best fit between modeled and measured spectra through a combination of onion-peeling and optimization steps. The retrieved HNO3 profiles are consistent over the 12-year period, and are consistent with recent measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier transform spectrometer satellite instrument. We therefore find no evidence of long-term changes in the HNO 3 summer mid-latitude profile, although the uncertainty of our measurements precludes a conclusive trend analysis.
CITATION STYLE
Toohey, M., Quine, B. M., Strong, K., Bernath, P. F., Boone, C. D., Jonsson, A. I., … Wunch, D. (2007). Balloon-borne radiometer measurements of Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude stratospheric HNO3 profiles spanning 12 years. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 7(23), 6075–6084. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-6075-2007
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