Annual variation of strato-mesospheric carbon monoxide measured by ground-based Fourier transform infrared spectrometry

We present long-term time-series of strato-mesospheric CO vertical columns measured from stations located in Antarctica, mid-latitudes and the Arctic, covering the period from 1997–2005. The instrument and the measurement technique allows the separation of tropospheric and strato-mesospher...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: V. Velazco, S. W. Wood, M. Sinnhuber, I. Kramer, N. B. Jones, Y. Kasai, J. Notholt, T. Warneke, T. Blumenstock, F. Hase, F. J. Murcray, O. Schrems
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2007-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1305/2007/acp-7-1305-2007.pdf
Description
Summary:We present long-term time-series of strato-mesospheric CO vertical columns measured from stations located in Antarctica, mid-latitudes and the Arctic, covering the period from 1997&ndash;2005. The instrument and the measurement technique allows the separation of tropospheric and strato-mesospheric contributions to the CO column, therefore providing information on the chemistry and dynamics both at low and high altitudes. Data from polar stations show a similar annual variability of strato-mesospheric CO with a strong maximum in late winter and spring. A small enhancement in late summer for some stations, which we call the &quot;summer bulge&quot;, can be seen occasionally. Generally, the mid-latitude stations show no significant annual variability of strato-mesospheric CO columns. Measurements were compared with a two-dimensional chemistry-transport model of the middle atmosphere. The annual and latitudinal variations of CO are reproduced well by a model run including thermospheric CO. Comparison with two model scenarios show that the polar winter maximum is due solely to downward transport of thermospheric CO, while CHO<sub>x</sub> chemistry in the stratosphere could probably contribute to the summer maximum.
ISSN:1680-7316
1680-7324