Abstract
AbstractMonthly zonal mean observations of H2O and CH4 made by the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) and the stratospheric and mesospheric sounder (SAMS) instruments on Nimbus 7 have been used to investigate whether the H2O mixing ratios in the stratosphere are consistent with a source via the oxidation of CH4. While both sets of data show considerable seasonally varying structure, total hydrogen (neglecting molecular hydrogen) is relatively featureless with a mean value over the stratosphere of 6.0±0.35 p.p.m.v. (1σ) for the five‐month period studied. The uniformity of the total hydrogen fields points to the validity of the CH4 oxidation hypothesis.The derived fields of total hydrogen are used to deduce a mean H2O mixing ratio for air as it enters the stratosphere of 2.7±0.35 p.p.m.v. (1σ) from which a desiccation temperature may be deduced (for example. −87.2°C at 60 mb).
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
