Balloon-borne measurements of trace gases:

Several minor constituents, such as CFCs, N₂O, CH₄, SF₆, CH₃Br, Halons, which deplete stratospheric ozone and most of them contribute significantly to the greenhouse warming and chemical balance in the atmosphere, were measured. A balloon-borne cryogenic air sampler was used to collect air samples in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. The first two flights were conducted in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy, Germany and the latter two flights were made using an indigenously developed cryogenic air sampler. An state of the art laboratory is operational at PRL for trace gas measurements. The vertical profiles of these gases show effect of tropical upwelling and stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Using the observed profiles of halogenated compounds, total chlorine amounts up to 35 km have been estimated.

Important Publications:

Lal et al., Nature, Vol. 316, p. 135, 1985.

Lal et al., Tellus, Vol. 46B, p. 373, 1994.

Patra et al., JGR, Vol. 102, p. 8855, 1997.

Patra et al., Tellus, Vol. 52B, p.934, 2000.

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