Trace gas distributions and relationships in the remote atmosphere: Results from the HIAPER Pole to Pole Observations (HIPPO) flights

The HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) experiment is being conducted to obtain seasonally-resolved and high resolution measurements of trace gases and aerosols over an extensive latitude and altitude range over the Pacific Ocean. The NSF Gulfstream V (GV) aircraft was instrumented to collect data from approximately 85N to 65S latitude, and from <0.5 - 14 km altitude. Thus far, three missions out of a total of five planned have taken place (January, 2009; October/November, 2009; and March/April, 2010). During the missions, whole air samples and in-situ gas chromatography were employed to measure a wide range of trace gases. The gases measured included a variety of long and short lived gases with different source distributions and emission patterns. The gases include a variety of non-methane hydrocarbons, methyl halides, halogenated solvents, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, organic nitrates, and selected sulfur species. The focus of these measurements is to characterize distribution and variability of the measured trace gases, evaluate interhemispheric differences, infer transport pathways and rates, and ultimately to test and improve large scale models of atmospheric chemistry and transport. In this presentation, we show an overview of some of the observed distributions and relationships of gases measured from whole air samples and in-situ chromatography, including some seasonal variation, and relate these observations to selected gases measured at high time resolution (e.g. CO, CH4) and at surface sites.