Stratomesospheric CO measured by a ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometer over Poker Flat, Alaska: Comparisons with Odin/SMR and a 2-D model
Journal article, 2007

The interseasonal variability of stratomesospheric CO is reported from Poker Flat, Alaska, using spectra from a ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometer (gb-FTS) for the time period from 2000 to 2004. The CO spectra were analyzed using an optimal estimation technique that separates the tropospheric and stratospheric/mesospheric components into partial columns. The distribution of CO in the polar winter is such that the gb-FTS retrieved partial column is weighted to the mesosphere. The gb-FTS data are compared with measurements of partial column CO from the Sub-Millimeter Radiometer on board the Odin satellite and shown to be in very good agreement despite the relatively small sample size. The mean difference of the two data sets indicates a small positive bias (7.6 +/- 6%) in favor of the Odin data, with a correlation coefficient, r(2) = 0.91. The gb-FTS data indicate that there is a strong seasonal dependence of the CO partial column that is consistent with known winter polar thermospheric descent of CO enriched air. Year-to-year variability is explained in terms of mesospheric wind dynamics, which show 2004 and components of 2002 were affected by earlier than expected breakdown (30 +/- 13 d) of the winter polar circulation compared with 2000 to 2003. Finally, the measured CO data is compared with a 2-D chemical transport model that gives support to the idea that springtime polar mesospheric CO is driven by meridional winds.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Carbon monoxide

Mesosphere

Odin Sub-Millimetre Radiometer

Atmospheric circulation

Stratosphere

Author

N. Jones

University of Wollongong

Y. Kasai

Japan National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

E. Dupuy

University of Saskatchewan

Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers, OASU

Y. Murayama

Japan National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

National Institute of Polar Research

Joachim Urban

Chalmers, Department of Radio and Space Science, Global Environmental Measurements

B. Barret

Paul Sabatier University

M. Sinnhuber

Universität Bremen

A. Kagawa

Japan National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

Fujitsu FTP Corporation

T. Koshiro

Kyoto University

P. Ricaud

Paul Sabatier University

Donal Murtagh

Chalmers, Department of Radio and Space Science, Global Environmental Measurements

Journal of Geophysical Research

01480227 (ISSN) 21562202 (eISSN)

Vol. 112 D20 D20303

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1029/2006JD007916

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