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Stratospheric methane concentration profiles measured during the Balloon Intercomparison Campaigns

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Abstract

Following the Balloon Intercomparison Campaigns carried out from the NSBF, Palestine, Texas, in the fall of 1982 (BIC1) and spring of 1983 (BIC2), three instruments have reported infrared measurements (one in emission and two in absorption) from which results on the concentration of methane between 20 and 40 km altitude have been deduced. While the absorption-retrieved concentration profiles are in excellent agreement, the results from the emission measurements are significantly lower. Recent methane profiles obtained by satellite and from Spacelab 1 are in satisfactory agreement with the absorption data reported here.

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Zander, R., Louisnard, N. & Bangham, M. Stratospheric methane concentration profiles measured during the Balloon Intercomparison Campaigns. J Atmos Chem 10, 145–158 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054854

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