ISSN:
1436-5073
Keywords:
infrared
;
solar spectrum
;
atmospheric spectroscopy
;
trace gases
;
South Pole
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Simultaneous total column amounts of a number of minor and trace atmospheric gases above the South Pole in December 1980 and December 1986 have been deduced from analysis of high resolution solar absorption spectra recorded (by F. J. M. and F. H. M.) from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. These spectra also contain some limited information on the vertical profiles of the observed atmospheric gases. The data sets were recorded with a Bomem Michelson-type interferometer and analyzed with a spectral least-squares fitting procedure, utilizing the best available spectroscopic line parameters and absorption cross sections. Because the same instrument, line parameters, and analysis method have been used in analyzing the December 1980 and December 1986 data sets, the precision in comparing the column amounts from these two dates is rather high, about 10–20% for the stronger absorbing gases. For this reason, it has been possible to quantify or determine upper limits for differences between the December 1980 and December 1986 total column amounts, of a number of atmospheric gases including O3, N2O, HNO3, CO2, CH4, and CF2C1 2 (CFC 12). In addition, vertical column amounts for a number of atmospheric gases covered only in the December 1986 observations have been derived, including HC1, NO, NO2, and C2H6. Some of these results will be discussed here. The HC1 measurements are especially interesting since the observed amounts are higher than expected from observations made at lower latitudes in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01349799
