Measured HDO/H2O ratios across the tropical tropopause
Kuang, Z., G. C. Toon, Paul O. Wennberg and Yuk L. Yung
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, NO. 7, 1372, doi:10.1029/2003GL017023,
2003
Abstract
We present the first simultaneous measurements of HDO and H2O in the tropical
upper troposphere (UT) and lower stratosphere (LS) as derived from infrared
solar absorption spectra acquired by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy
(ATMOS) experiment. We find, surprisingly, that the observed HDO/H2O ratio
does not decrease with altitude in this region despite a factor of 4-5
decrease in the water vapor mixing ratio. This observation is inconsistent
with the view that dehydration in the tropical UT/LS is by gradual processes,
and suggests a major role by convective processes.
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Zhiming Kuang <kzm@atmos.washington.edu>