Infrared spectroscopy of the lower stratosphere with a balloon-borne cryogenic Fourier spectrometer

The IR limb emission of the lower stratosphere has been measured using a balloon-borne liquid nitrogen-cooled Michelson interferometer with liquid helium-cooled Si:Ga detectors. Portions of the thermal emission spectrum have been recorded between 650 and 2000/cm with an unapodized spectral resolution of 0.03/cm. This is the highest spectral resolution limb emission thus far obtained. A preliminary description is given of these data along with a discussion of the significant features. Species identified to date include CO2, O3, CFCl3, CF2Cl2, H2O, CH4, HNO3, N2O, NO2, and ClONO2. A tentative identification is made for NO, representing the first direct spectroscopic detection of NO in emission.