An upper limit for stratospheric hydrogen peroxide

We present measurements of an altitude-dependent upper limit for stratospheric hydrogen peroxide that is substantially lower than previously determined limits. The data were obtained with a remote-sensing far-infrared spectrometer during a balloon flight on 23 January 1983. Our 2 sigma upper limit is 0.05 ppbv near 26.5 km, and is larger above and below that altitude. This new upper limit is compared with two currently available modelling calculations for H₂O₂; in the neighborhood of 32 km, it is slightly lower than, but comparable to these theoretical profiles. The implications for measurement of H₂O₂ at different latitudes and seasons are briefly discussed.