Temporal and latitudinal variations of stratospheric trace gases - A critical comparison between theory and experiment

Global calculations of stratospheric HOx, Clx, and NOx are presented which include the effects of planetary albedo and diurnal and seasonal variations of the insolation. Comparisons are made with a wide range of atmospheric measurements at different latitudes and altitudes. Agreement between theory and observations is generally within a factor of 2. The theory appears to explain adequately the major features of latitude and seasonal distributions of NO2 and HNO3. The results indicate that mesospheric OH makes an appreciable contribution to the total OH column abundance and strongly suggest that nitrogen oxides exist principally in the form of HNO3 at high latitudes in winter. There are difficulties in reconciling OH, ClO, and O3 observations in the upper stratosphere.