Vertical profiles of ozone and trace gases
using Rocket
and Balloon
To study the distribution of trace gases (especially CFCs) in the stratosphere,
we have conducted high altitude balloon flights from Hyderabad, India.
The initial three flights were in collaboration with Max Planck
Institute, Germany, the first one launched in 1985. Later, a indigenous cryogenic
air sampler was developed jointly with ISRO and flown successfully in 1994 and 1998.
Profiles of a large number of trace gases
including CFCs, SF6, CH3Br etc. have been observed from Hy-
derabad. Total Cl loading has also been calculated from these
measurements.
The observed trace gases have been compared with simulations from a
2-D chemical trasport model from MPIC, Mainz (Germany) and now with us at PRL.
SF6 is a useful tracer and was included in the 2-D model to validate the vertical
transport mechanism of the model. Sharp gradient above 15
km and extremely weak gradient
above 25 km in the observations
from Hyderabad are due to dynamical effects.