Carbon monoxide distribution from the ACE-FTS solar occultation measurements

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the CO observations acquired during the first eight months (January to September 2004) of the ACE mission. We show that the ACE high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS), which operates in the solar occultation geometry and covers a wide spectral interval in the infrared, provides useful measurements in both the CO 1-0 and 2-0 vibrational bands. Vertically-resolved CO concentration profiles are retrieved, extending from the mid-troposphere to the thermosphere (from about 5 to 110 km). We have analyzed the latitudinal variability of the measurements, from which various physical and chemical atmospheric processes are highlighted for further study. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.