Balloon-borne In-Situ Measurements of ClO and ClONO2 in the late 2010/2011 Arctic Polar Vortex: Instrument Calibration and Results
Abstract
Since 1995 we have carried out balloon-borne in-situ measurements of ClO and BrO. Lately we have designed an upgraded balloon instrument to additionally measure the ClO dimer and the reservoir species ClONO2. The halogen oxide measurements are carried out employing the chemical conversion resonance fluorescence technique (Brune et al., 1989) in a fast flow through two parallel ducts generated by modified roots blowers. The inlet of one duct is equipped with a dedicated heating element enabling controlled air temperatures in excess of 550K at pressures lower than 50 hPa. This causes the ClO dimer to thermolyze forming two ClO molecules at around 380K as well as additional thermolysis of ClONO2 to ClO and NO2 at around 540K. The ClO generated within the thermolysis is then detected on top of the ambient ClO. Temperature cycling and intercomparisons with the first unheated duct allow the differentiation of the chlorine species. Details of the instrumental setup, instrument calibration, and performance will be discussed. Profiles for ClO and ClONO2 from a flight carried out from ESRANGE near Kiruna, Sweden, on April-01-2011 in the edge region of the degrading arctic vortex will be presented marking the first ClONO2 in-situ measurements above research aircraft altitudes (20km). Brune, W. H., et al., Insitu Observations Of ClO In The Antarctic - Er-2 Aircraft Results From 54-Degrees-S To 72-Degrees-S Latitude, Journal Of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 94, 16649-16663, 1989.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AGUFM.A43C0165S
- Keywords:
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- 0317 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Chemical kinetic and photochemical properties;
- 0322 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Constituent sources and sinks