Validation of NO sub(2) and NO from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics discussions 2008-02, Vol.8 (1), p.3027-3142
• Main Authors: Kerzenmacher, T, Wolff, MA, Strong, K, Dupuy, E, Walker, KA, Amekudzi, L K, Batchelor, R L, Bernath, P F, Berthet, G, Blumenstock, T, Boone, C D, Bramstedt, K, Brogniez, C, Brohede, S, Burrows, J P, Catoire, V, Dodion, J, Drummond, J R, Dufour, D G, Funke, B, Fussen, D, Goutail, F, T Griffith, DW, Haley, C S, Hendrick, F, Hoepfner, M, Huret, N, Jones, N, Kar, J, Kramer, I, Llewellyn, E J, Lopez-Puertas, M, Manney, G, McElroy, C T, McLinden, CA, Melo, S, Mikuteit, S, Murtagh, D, Nichitiu, F, Notholt, J, Nowlan, C, Piccolo, C, Pommereau, J-P, Randall, C, Raspollini, P, Ridolfi, M, Richter, A, Schneider, M, Schrems, O, Silicani, M, Stiller, G P, Taylor, J, Tetard, C, Toohey, M, Vanhellemont, F, Warneke, T, Zawodny, J M, Zou, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1680-7367; 1680-7375

Vertical profiles of NO sub(2) and NO have been obtained from solar occultation measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), using an infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer, ACE-FTS, and an ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectrometer, MAESTRO (Measurement of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation). In this paper, the quality of the ACE-FTS version 2.2 NO sub(2) and NO and the MAESTRO version 1.2 NO sub(2) data are assessed using other solar occultation measurements (HALOE, SAGE II, SAGE III, POAM III, SCIAMACHY), stellar occultation measurements (GOMOS), limb measurements (MIPAS, OSIRIS), nadir measurements (SCIAMACHY), balloon measurements (SPIRALE, SAOZ) and ground-based measurements (UV-VIS, FTIR). Time differences between the comparison measurements were reduced using either a tight coincidence criterion, or where possible, chemical box models. ACE-FTS NO sub(2) and NO and the MAESTRO NO sub(2) are generally consistent with the correlative data. The ACE-FTS NO sub(2) VMRs agree with the satellite data sets to within about 20% between 25 and 40 km, and suggest a negative bias between 23 and 40 km of about \textminus10%. In comparisons with HALOE, ACE-FTS NO VMRs typically agree to plus or minus 8% from 22 to 64 km and to +10% from 93 to 105 km. Partial column comparisons for NO sub(2) show that there is fair agreement between the ACE instruments and the FTIRs, with a mean difference of +7.3% for ACE-FTS and +12.8% for MAESTRO.