Nitrous oxide in the atmosphere: First measurements of a lower thermospheric source

DOI: 
10.1002/2015GL067353
Publication date: 
01/03/2016
Main author: 
Sheese P.E.
IAA authors: 
Funke, B.
Authors: 
Sheese P.E., Walker K.A., Boone C.D., Bernath P.F., Funke B.
Journal: 
Geophysical Research Letters
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
Pages: 
2866-2872
Number: 
Abstract: 
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important anthropogenic greenhouse gas, as well as one of the most significant anthropogenic ozone-depleting substances in the stratosphere. The satellite-based instrument Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier Transform Spectrometer has been observing the Earth's limb since 2004 and derives profiles of N2O volume mixing ratios in the upper troposphere to the lower thermosphere. The resulting climatology shows that N2O is continuously produced in the lower thermosphere via energetic particle precipitation and enhanced N2O is present at all latitudes, during all seasons. The results are consistent with an N2O production source peaking near or above 94km via low-energy particles, as well as a polar wintertime source near 70km via medium energy particles. N2O produced in the polar upper atmosphere descends each winter to as far down as ~40km. ©2016. American Geophysical Union.
Database: 
SCOPUS
ADS
WOK
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2016GeoRL..43.2866S/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2016GeoRL..43.2866S
Keywords: 
ACE-FTS; Atmospheric N2O production; Lower thermosphere; Nitrous oxide; NOx descent