Detection of methane depletion associated with stratospheric intrusion by atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS). Issue 10 (31st May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiong, Xiaozhen; Barnet, Chris; Maddy, Eric; Wofsy, S.C.; Chen, Liangfu; Karion, Anna; Sweeney, Colm
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 40:Issue 10(2013:May)
• Page Start: 2455
• Page End: 2459
• Publication Date: 2013-05-31
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/grl.50476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>[1] Atmospheric methane (CH₄) concentration in the mid‐to‐upper troposphere has been retrieved using atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) data on NASA EOS/AQUA. By selecting the AIRS strong CH₄ absorption channels near 1306 cm⁻¹, severe CH₄ depletion was mapped during a stratospheric intrusion event on 27 March 2010. The areas with depleted CH₄ mixing ratio are collocated with enhanced ozone (O₃) and low tropopause height. Aircraft measurements observed the depleted CH₄ and enhanced O₃ down to 550 hPa. An estimate of the depleted CH₄ amount which resulted from stratospheric intrusion is −54 to −67 Tg yr⁻¹. This study suggests that the AIRS and/or other thermal infrared sounders can provide an observation of CH₄ variation associated with stratospheric intrusion, a key unknown in CH₄ budget, and this data set will be also useful for studying the stratosphere‐troposphere exchange (STE).</p> </abstract>