Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Stratospheric Nitrogen Dioxide from Infrared Absorption Spectra

Nature volume 240, pages 300–301 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

STRATOSPHERIC absorption due to NO2 has been identified1–3 in infrared spectra of the solar radiation recorded from balloon borne gondolas floating at mid-latitudes in the altitude range of 30 km when the solar zenith angle is larger than 91°. In this particular geometric situation most of the absorption by the atmosphere takes place at altitudes smaller than float altitude over very long optical paths. This offers two great advantages: the sensitivity of the absorption method is maximum and the quantitative interpretation is easier because absorption takes place mostly at constant total pressure, constituent concentration and temperature where the solar radiation passes closest to the Earth's surface.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ackerman, M., and Frimout, D., Bul. Acad. Roy. Belgique, 55, 948 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ackerman, M., Space Sci. Rev. (in the press).

  3. Goldman, A., Murcray, D. G., Murcray, F. H., Williams, W., and Bonomo, F. S., Nature, 225, 443 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Olman, M. D., and Hause, C. D., J. Mol. Spectr., 26, 241 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yamamoto, G., and Aoki, T., J. Quant. Spectr. Radial. Transfer., 12, 227 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Guttman, A., J. Quant. Spectr. Radiat. Transfer., 12, 1 (1962).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Benedict, W. S., and Calfee, R. F., ESSA professional paper 2 (US Department of Commerce, Washington, 1967).

  8. Harries, J. E., Swann, N. R., Beckman, J. E., and Ade, P. A. R., Nature, 236, 159 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nicolet, M., in Mesospheric Models and Related Experiments (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut d' Aéronomie Spatiale de Belgique, 3 Avenue Circulaire, Brussels, Belgium

    M. ACKERMAN & C. MULLER

Authors
  1. M. ACKERMAN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. MULLER
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ACKERMAN, M., MULLER, C. Stratospheric Nitrogen Dioxide from Infrared Absorption Spectra. Nature 240, 300–301 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/240300a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/240300a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing