Stratospheric measurements of H2O and the diurnal change of NO and NO2

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 258; no. 5537; pp. 696 - 697
• Main Authors: CHALONER, C. P., DRUMMOND, J. R., HOUGHTON, J. T., JARNOT, R. F., ROSCOE, H. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1975
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/258696a0

Results are presented for two flights of a balloon-borne radiometer that senses IR emission from minor stratospheric constituents on the atmospheric limb. During these flights, emissions from NO, NO2, and water vapor were measured at heights of up to 37 km. An increase in the water-vapor mixing ratio by at least a factor of 1.9 between 25 and 35 km is found which supports the hypothesis that methane oxidation takes place in that region. It is shown that the NO and NO2 concentrations detected with the radiometer are somewhat larger than previously reported values. Data analysis indicates that the sum of the NO and NO2 concentrations remains constant from night to day.