Nitrous Oxide in the Atmosphere: First Measurements of a Lower Thermospheric Source

Authors

Patrick E. Sheese
Kaley A. Walker
Chris D. Boone
Peter F. Bernath, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Bernd Funke

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2016

DOI

10.1002/2015GL067353

Publication Title

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume

43

Issue

6

Pages

2866-2872

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 94 km via low-energy particles, as well as a polar wintertime source near 70 km via medium energy particles. N₂O produced in the polar upper atmosphere descends each winter to as far down as ∼40 km. ©2016. American Geophysical Union.

Original Publication Citation

Sheese, P. E., Walker, K. A., Boone, C. D., Bernath, P. F., & Funke, B. (2016). Nitrous oxide in the atmosphere: First measurements of a lower thermospheric source. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(6), 2866-2872. doi:10.1002/2015GL067353

ORCID

0000-0002-1255-396X (Bernath)

Repository Citation

Sheese, Patrick E.; Walker, Kaley A.; Boone, Chris D.; Bernath, Peter F.; and Funke, Bernd, "Nitrous Oxide in the Atmosphere: First Measurements of a Lower Thermospheric Source" (2016). Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications. 62.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chemistry_fac_pubs/62