New spectral features of stratospheric trace gases

A new Michelson-type interferometer system operating in the infrared at very high resolution (0.002 to 0.003 wavenumber FWHM) was used to record numerous balloon-borne solar absorption spectra of the stratosphere, ground-based solar absorption spectra, and laboratory spectra of molecules of atmospheric interest. Results obtained are reported for several important stratospheric trace gases, HNO3, ClONO2, HO2NO2, NO2, and COF2, in the 8 to 12 micron spectral region. Many features of these gases were identified in the stratospheric spectra. Comparison of the spectra with line-by-line simulations shows previous spectral parameters are often inadequate. New analysis of high resolution laboratory and atmospheric spectra and improved theoretical calculations will be required for all bands. Preliminary versions of several sets of improved line parameters are presented.