Stratospheric observations of NO3 and its experimental and theoretical distribution between 20 and 40 km

Simultaneous measurements of vertical distributions of stratospheric NO3 and O3 at different periods of the night

“…In this case, one finds that the NO3 concentration 48 minutes after sunset is 80% of the concentration at midnight. This result is in conformity with the time-dependent models already mentioned above [Herman, 1979;Naudet et al, 1981]. For zenithal distances larger than 92 ø (altitude lower than 36 km), the solar time on this side of the point of tangency and the time beyond this point differ notably.…”

“…Theoretical aspects of this measurement have been debated by Herman [1979], Noxon et al [1980], and Herman [1980], and also by Gelinas and Vajk [1981], who have shown that measurements of the diurnal variations of the vertical distribution of NO3 would provide a sensitive test of the stratospheric photochemistry. Our first determination of the NO3 profile has been published and compared with a photochemical model [Naudet et al, 1981]. Furthermore, it now seems very important to make absolute measurements of stratospheric ozone with very good accuracy so as to detect a possible anthropogenic long-term trend of the stratospheric ozone concentration.…”

Atmospheric NO3: 1. Measurement technique and the annual cycle at 40°N

“…This overlap is likely responsible for the apparent NO3 scavenging previously reported in ground-based observations by Norton and Noxon [1986]. However, the balloon measurements of Rigaud et al [1983] and Naudet et al [1981] are largely unaffected by possible overlap with water vapor because the stratosphere is so much drier than the troposphere. When two or more absorption features are used in such spectroscopic studies, overlap with other atmospheric absorbers is not generally a serious problem since these are highly unlikely to obscure both in precisely the same way.…”

“…The first such observation of stratospheric NO3 was presented by Noxon et al [1978], who used a scanning spectrometer to measure the NO3 abundance above Fritz Peak Observatory (40øN) in April, 1978, using the moon as a light source. The same spectral feature was used to determine the vertical profile of stratospheric NO3 in balloon observations by Naudet et al [1981] and Rigaud et al [1983], using stars as light sources. These measurements were conducted largely during the equinoxes and were shown to be in general agreement with theoretical predictions regarding the abundance and vertical distribution of stratospheric NO3 at mid-latitudes during those seasons.…”

Direct comparisons of GOMOS and SAGE III NO<sub>3</sub> vertical profiles

“…Historically, NO 3 has been observed by ground-based lunar measurements, and the first measurements of NO 3 were published by Noxon et al (1978). In addition to groundbased measurements, balloon-borne measurements to observe the vertical structures have been made using stellar and lunar occultations (Naudet et al, 1981;Renard et al, 1996). Recently, NO 3 slant-column densities have been observed through sunrise and sunset using limb-scattered solar light measured by OSIRIS (McLinden and Haley, 2008).…”