Residence time and variability of tropospheric trace gases

Abstract

It is shown on the basis of theoretical considerations that time and space variations for tropospheric constituents should be approximately inversely proportional to their tropospheric residence time if the distribution of sources and sinks is similar. Compilation of available data seem to verify this. It is pointed out that such a relationship, if confirmed by further data, is a useful tool for atmospheric chemistry.DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974.tb01625.x