Journal article
Aircraft measurements of the latitudinal, vertical, and seasonal variations of NMHCs, methyl nitrate, methyl halides, and DMS during the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1)
Journal of Geophysical Research, Washington, DC, v 104(D17), pp 21803-21817
01 Jan 1999
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Canister sampling for the determination of atmospheric mixing ratios of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), selected halocarbons, and methyl nitrate was conducted aboard the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) C-130 aircraft over the Pacific and Southern Oceans as part of the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1) during November and December 1995. A latitudinal profile, flown from 76 degrees N to 60 degrees S, revealed latitudinal gradients for most trace gases. NMHC and halocarbon gases with predominantly anthropogenic sources, including ethane, ethyne, and tetrachloroethene, exhibited significantly higher mixing ratios in the northern hemisphere at all altitudes. Methyl chloride exhibited its lowest mixing ratios at the highest northern hemisphere latitudes, and the distributions of methyl nitrate and methyl iodide were consistent with tropical and subtropical oceanic sources. Layers containing continental air characteristic of aged biomass burning emissions were observed above about 3 km over the remote southern Pacific and near New Zealand between approximately 19 degrees S and 43 degrees S. These plumes originated from the west, possibly from fires in southern Africa. The month-long intensive investigation of the clean marine southern midlatitude troposphere south of Australia revealed decreases in the mixing ratios of ethane, ethyne, propane, and tetrachloroethene, consistent with their seasonal mixing ratio cycle. By contrast, increases in the average marine boundary layer concentrations of methyl iodide, methyl nitrate, and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) were observed as the season progressed to summer conditions. These increases were most appreciable in the region south of 44 degrees S over Southern Ocean waters characterized as subantarctic and polar, indicating a seasonal increase in oceanic productivity for these gases.
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Details
- Title
- Aircraft measurements of the latitudinal, vertical, and seasonal variations of NMHCs, methyl nitrate, methyl halides, and DMS during the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1)
- Creators
- Nicola Blake - University of California, IrvineDonald Blake - University of California, IrvineOliver Wingenter - Georgia Institute of TechnologyBarkley Sive - University of California, IrvineChang Kang - Jeju National UniversityDonald Thornton - Drexel UniversityAlan Bandy - Drexel UniversityElliot Atlas - National Center for Atmospheric ResearchFrank Flocke - National Center for Atmospheric ResearchJoyce Harris - National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationFSherwood Rowland
- Publication Details
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Washington, DC, v 104(D17), pp 21803-21817
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000082690200043
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0033401936
- Other Identifier
- 991019168333004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences