ATMOS/ATLAS 3 INFRARED PROFILE MEASUREMENTS OF TRACE GASES IN THE NOVEMBER 1994 TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL UPPER TROPOSPHERE

Abstract

Vertical mixing ratio profiles of four relatively long-lives gases, HCN, C 2H 2, CO, and C 2H 6, have been retrieved from 0.01 cm -1 resolution infrared solar occultation spectra recorded between latitudes of 5.3°N and 31.4°N. The observations were obtained by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer during the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) 3 shuttle flight, 3–12 November 1994. Elevated mixing ratios below the tropopause were measured for these gases during several of the occultations. The positive correlations obtained between the simultaneously measured mixing ratios suggest that the enhancements are likely the result of surface emissions, most likely biomass burning and/or urban industrial activities, followed by common injection via deep convective transport of the gases to the upper troposphere. The elevated levels of HCN may account for at least part of the “missing NO y ” in the upper troposphere. Comparisons of the observations with values measured during a recent aircraft campaign are presented.