Stratospheric CℓO: In‐situ detection with a new approach

Abstract

Stratospheric chlorine monoxide concentrations were measured in situ using a new and improved observational method in which the detection package is lowered and then reeled back up. Two reel down and reel up sequences covering 38 to 31 km produced [CℓO] profiles which agree with each other to ± 12%. The measured [CℓO] profile falls within the envelope of nine previous "fast" parachute drop results, but exhibits a different shape, peaking near 32 km as opposed to ∼39 km for the average of the previous profiles. These results are consistent with the profiles derived from remote sensing methods, and indicate the need for simultaneous measurements of relevant species.