[en] Stratospheric volume mixing ratio profiles of carbon tetrafluoride, CF4, obtained with the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument during the ATLAS (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) -3 mission of 1994 are reported. Overall the profiles are nearly constant over the altitude range 20 to 50 km, indicative of the very long lifetime of CF4 in the atmosphere. In comparison to the stratospheric values of CF4 inferred from the ATMOS/Spacelab 3 mission of 1985, the 1994 concentrations are consistent with an exponential increase of (1.6 +/- 0.6)%/yr. This increase is discussed with regard to previous results and likely sources of CF4 at the ground. Further, it is shown that simultaneous measurements of N2O and CF4 provide a means of constraining the lower limit of the atmospheric lifetime of CF4 at least 2,300 years, two sigma.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Zander, Rodolphe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté des sciences) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Sciences)
Solomon, S.
Mahieu, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Groupe infra-rouge de phys. atmosph. et solaire (GIRPAS)
Goldman, A.
Rinsland, C. P.
Gunson, M. R.
Abrams, M. C.
Chang, A. Y.
Salawitch, R. J.
Michelsen, H. A.
Newchurch, M. J.
Stiller, G. P.
Language :
English
Title :
Increase of stratospheric carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) based on ATMOS observations from space
Publication date :
15 August 1996
Journal title :
Geophysical Research Letters
ISSN :
0094-8276
eISSN :
1944-8007
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
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