Abstract
Atmospheric ion composition measurements were recently extended downwards to the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere following development of a new aircraft-borne mass spectrometer technique. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these measurements is that they can serve as a powerful tool for neutral trace gas detection in passive chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (PACIMS). However, the measurements, in particular those of positive ions, suffer from a poor mass resolution which complicates ion identification and the PACIMS application. Here we report improved positive-ion composition measurements in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, using an improved aircraft-borne mass spectrometer with higher mass resolution and sensitivity than hitherto achieved.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Heitmann, H. & Arnold, F. Nature 306, 747–751 (1983).
Arnold, F., Heitmann, H. & Oberfrank, K. Planet Space Sci. (in the press).
Arnold, F. & Henschen, G. Nature 275, 521–522 (1978).
Henschen, G. & Arnold, F. Geophys. Res. Lett. 8, 999 (1981).
Arijs, E., Ingels, J. & Nevejans, D. Nature 271, 642–644 (1978).
Ferguson, E. & Arnold, F. Accts. chem. Res. 14, 327 (1981).
Arnold, F. in Atmospheric Chemistry, (ed. Goldberg, E. D.) (Springer, Heidelberg, 1982).
Kebarle, P. A. Rev. Phys. Chem. 445, (1977).
Arnold, F., Oberfrank, K. & Hauck, G. Planet. Space Sci. (submitted).
Penkett, S. in Atmospheric Chemistry (ed Goldberg, E. D.) (Springer, Heidelberg, 1982).
Niki, H. in Atmospheric Chemistry, (ed. Goldberg, E. D.) (Springer, Heidelberg, 1982).
Georgii, H. W. & Müller, W. J. Tellus 16, 1–2 (1974).
Georgii, H. W. & Lenhard, U. Pageophysics 116, (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hauck, G., Arnold, F. Improved positive-ion composition measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and the detection of acetone. Nature 311, 547–550 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311547a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311547a0
This article is cited by
-
Acetone measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere—implications for hydroxyl radical abundances
Nature (1986)
-
Gaseous ammonia and ammonium ions in the free troposphere
Nature (1986)
-
Lower stratosphere trace gas detection using aircraft-borne active chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Nature (1985)
