Stratospheric HCl and HNO3 Measurements from Arrival Heights FTIR Spectrometer

SCIOPs collected infrared spectrometer measurements of stratospheric nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) at Arrival Heights. Data includes column amounts derived from Fourier transformed spectra recorded during early spring periods. The dataset was last updated in October 1996.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in HCl column amounts to study chlorine compound behavior in the Antarctic stratosphere.
• Correlate HNO3 column amounts with seasonal solar return data to model nitrogen compound cycles.
• Use derived column amount data for validating atmospheric chemistry models of ozone depletion.
• Study the relationship between HCl and HNO3 spectral features at 3 and 10 microns for remote sensing calibration.

Strengths

• Data originates from a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer with two liquid nitrogen-cooled detectors.
• Focuses on two specific compounds (HCl and HNO3) critical for ozone depletion research.

Limitations

• Dataset temporal coverage is limited to early spring periods from sun return until early November.
• Data is derived, with raw data consisting of times and interferograms, potentially limiting direct analysis.
• Last update was in 1996, indicating the data may not reflect current atmospheric conditions.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPs organization via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Measurements from a Bomem infrared Fourier transform spectrometer (FTIR) analyzing spectra at 10 and 3 microns.

Time Range

Early spring periods from sun return until early November.

Geography

Arrival Heights.