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ATMOS Measurements of H2O + 2CH4 and Total Reactive Nitrogen in the November 1994 Antarctic Stratosphere: Dehydration and Denitrification in the VortexSimultaneous stratospheric volume mixing ratios (VMR's) measured inside and outside the Antarctic vortex by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument in November 1994 reveal previously unobserved features in the distributions of total reactive nitrogen (NO(y)) and total hydrogen (H2O + 2CH4). Maximum removal of NO(y) due to sedimentation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) inside the vortex occurred at a potential temperature (Theta) of 500-525 K (approximately 20 km), where values were 5 times smaller than measurements outside. Maximum loss of H2O + 2CH4 due to PSC's occurred in the vortex at 425-450 K, approximately 3 km lower than the peak NO(y) loss. At that level, H2O + 2CH4 VMR's inside the vortex were approximately 70% of corresponding values outside. The Antarctic and April 1993 Arctic measurements by ATMOS show no significant differences in H2O + 2CH4 VMR's outside the vortices in the two hemispheres. Elevated NO(y) VMRs were measured inside the vortex near 700 K. Recent model calculations indicate that this feature results from downward transport of elevated NO(y) produced in the thermosphere and mesosphere.
Document ID
19970023227
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rinsland, C. P.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Gunson, M. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Salawitch, R. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Newchurch, M. J.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Zander, R.
(Liege Univ. Belgium)
Abbas, M. M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Abrams, M. C.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Manney, G. L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Michelsen, H. A.
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Chang, A. Y.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Goldman, A.
(Denver Univ. Denver, CO United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
August 15, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: ATLAS Series of Shuttle Missions
Volume: 23
Issue: 17
ISSN: 0094-8534
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Report/Patent Number
Paper-96GL00048
Accession Number
97N23615
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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