Correlations of stratospheric abundances of CH₄ and N₂O derived from ATMOS measurements

Abstract

ATMOS measurements made over a wide range of altitudes and latitudes demonstrate compact correlations between mixing ratios of CH 4 and N 2 O. Tight but distinct correlations are observed for the tropics, the springtime Arctic vortex, and the extra‐tropics/extra‐vortex regions, indicating dynamical isolation between these regions. Little variability is apparent in correlations between [CH 4 ] and [N 2 O] from measurements made in different years (1992, 1993, and 1994), seasons (March/April and November), and hemispheres.