First ground‐based FTIR observations of the seasonal variation of carbon monoxide in the tropics

Abstract

We present the first ground‐based solar absorption Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometric measurements in the inner tropics over several years. The FTIR observations agree well with satellite data from the MOPITT instrument. MATCH‐MPIC model simulations reproduce the mean vertical structure of the FTIR observations. The model is generally not able to reproduce the extreme enhancements seen during the specific biomass burning events by both observation instruments. Nevertheless, the model indicates that beyond the background source of CO from methane oxidation, the main contributions to the CO mixing ratios are the episodic convective injection of NMHCs and CO from South American biomass burning into the upper troposphere, along with long range transport of African biomass burning CO, particularly during spring. In future studies with more extensive observed time series, observations such as these will be valuable for evaluating ongoing improvements in global chemistry transport models.