Stratospheric HF and HCl observations /15 June 1981/

Balloon measurements of the stratospheric HF/HCl ratio are reported. Seven far-infrared rotational lines of HF and HCl were observed at elevation angles of 25, 18 and 8 deg by a far-infrared Fourier-transform spectrometer on board a balloon platform at 28.5 km. Analysis of line intensities yields an average HF/HCl ratio of 0.18 + or - 0.02 at an effective altitude of 33 km, with a water vapor mixing ratio of about 4 ppmv. Results are noted to be in reasonable agreement with the calculated profile of Sze and Ko (1981) with 4.5 ppmv H2O.