Hydrogen fluoride total and partial column time series above the Jungfraujoch from long‐term FTIR measurements: Impact of the line‐shape model, characterization of the error budget and seasonal cycle, and comparison with satellite and model data

Abstract

Time series of hydrogen fluoride (HF) total columns have been derived from ground‐based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) solar spectra recorded between March 1984 and December 2009 at the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch (Swiss Alps, 46.5°N, 8.0°E, 3580 m asl) with two high‐resolution spectrometers (one homemade and one Bruker 120‐HR). Solar spectra have been inverted with the PROFFIT 9.5 algorithm, using the optimal estimation method. An intercomparison of HF total columns retrieved with PROFFIT and SFIT‐2–the other reference algorithm in the FTIR community–is performed for the first time. The effect of a Galatry line shape model on HF retrieved total columns and vertical profiles, on the residuals of the fits and on the error budget is also quantified. Information content analysis indicates that in addition to HF total vertical abundance, three independent stratospheric HF partial columns can be derived from our Bruker spectra. A complete error budget has been established and indicates that the main source of systematic error is linked to HF spectroscopy and that the random error affecting our HF total columns does not exceed 2.5%. Ground‐based middle and upper stratospheric HF amounts have been compared to satellite data collected by the HALOE or ACE‐FTS instruments. Comparisons of our FTIR HF total and partial columns with runs performed by two three‐dimensional numerical models (SLIMCAT and KASIMA) are also included. Finally, FTIR and model HF total and partial columns time series have been analyzed to derive the main characteristics of their seasonal cycles.