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The variability of stratospheric and mesospheric NO2 in the polar winter night observed by LIMSThe LIMS experiment sounded the upper atmosphere from late October 1978 to late May 1979 and provided vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, 03, H2O, HNO3, and NO2. Radiance averaging was used before retrieval to measure the altitude distribution of NO2 over the altitude range from the lower stratosphere into the mesosphere. Observations in the polar winter night region northward of about 70 deg N reveal NO2 levels near 175 ppbv at about 70 km, and they show a significant longitudinal variability (factor of 4 to 7). A definite temporal trend exists, showing a buildup of mesospheric and stratospheric NO2 during the polar night and a subsequent slowing of the increase of decline after sunlight returns, depending on altitude. The data represent the first experimental evidence that the thermosphere is an NO(x) source for the mesosphere and stratosphere.
Document ID
19840061754
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Russell, M. J., III
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Remsberg, E. E.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Callis, L. B.
(NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Sciences Div., Hampton, VA, United States)
Solomon, S.
(NOAA, Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder CO, United States)
Gordley, L. L.
(Systems and Applied Sciences Corp. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
August 20, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 89
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
84A44541
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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