A global inventory of stratospheric fluorine in 2004 based on Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) measurements

Total fluorine (FTOT) in the stratosphere has been determined using Atmospheric
Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) measurements of HF,
COF2, COClF, CF4, CCl3F (CFC-11), CCl2F2 (CFC-12), CHClF2 (HCFC-22),
CCl2FCClF2 (CFC-113), CH3CClF2 (HCFC-142b), CH2FCF3 (HFC-134a), and SF6. The
retrieval of HFC-134a (CH2FCF3) from spaceborne measurements had not been carried
out prior to this work. Measurements of these species have been supplemented by data
from models to extend the altitude range of the profiles and have also been complemented
by estimates of 15 minor fluorine species. Using these data, separate fluorine budgets were
determined in five latitude zones (60°–82°N, 30°–60°N, 30°S–30°N, 30°–60°S, and
60°–82°S) by averaging over the period of February 2004 to January 2005 inclusive,
when possible. Stratospheric FTOT profiles in each latitude zone are nearly linear, with
mean stratospheric FTOT values ranging from 2.50 to 2.59 ppbv (with a 1sig precision of
0.04–0.07 ppbv and an estimated accuracy of 0.15 ppbv) for each zone. The highest mean
FTOT value occurred in the tropics, which is qualitatively consistent with increasing levels
of stratospheric fluorine and the mean stratospheric circulation pattern.