Comparison of nitric oxide measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere from ACE-FTS, MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, and SMR
Journal article, 2015

We compare the nitric oxide measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (60 to 150 km) from four instruments: the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS), the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY), and the Sub-Millimetre Radiometer (SMR). We use the daily zonal mean data in that altitude range for the years 2004–2010 (ACE-FTS), 2005–2012 (MIPAS), 2008–2012 (SCIAMACHY), and 2003–2012 (SMR). We first compare the data qualitatively with respect to the morphology, focussing on the major features, and then compare the time series directly and quantitatively. In three geographical regions, we compare the vertical density profiles on coincident measurement days. Since none of the instruments delivers continuous daily measurements in this altitude region, we carried out a multi-linear regression analysis. This regression analysis considers annual and semi-annual variability in the form of harmonic terms and inter-annual variability by responding linearly to the solar Lyman-α radiation index and the geomagnetic Kp index. This analysis helps to find similarities and differences in the individual data sets with respect to the inter-annual variations caused by geomagnetic and solar variability.

Nitric Oxide

Odin/SMR

Middle atmosphere

Energetic Particle Precipitation

Author

Stefan Bender

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

M. Sinnhuber

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

T. von Clarmann

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

G. Stiller

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

B. Funke

Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA)

M. López-Puertas

Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA)

Joachim Urban

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Global Environmental Measurements and Modelling

Kristell Perot

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Global Environmental Measurements and Modelling

K. A. Walker

University of Toronto

J. Burrows

Universität Bremen

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

1867-1381 (ISSN) 1867-8548 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 10 4171-4195

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

DOI

10.5194/amt-8-4171-2015

More information

Latest update

4/1/2021 1