MIPAS measurement of sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆)

Abstract

The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) is a polar orbiting high resolution mid‐infrared emission stratospheric limb sounder with a nominal vertical resolution of 3 km. Work to extend the list of interesting, routinely retrieved species led to the examination of SF 6 , a potent greenhouse gas and a useful tracer species. We demonstrate the feasibility of profile retrievals in the range 6–30 km based on single scans. Additionally, we investigate latitudinal variation using coaddition to improve signal‐to‐noise. A mean mid‐latitude profile shows tropospheric (4.32 ± 0.03 pptv, 6–12 km) and stratospheric (3.50 ± 0.03 pptv, 21–30 km) regimes, in September 2002, similar to accepted values. The global mean contains an inter‐hemispheric variability of the order of 0.3 pptv in the lower stratosphere, in line with age of air. Finally, the continuation of acknowledged global trends in atmospheric concentration, is estimated at +0.28 pptv yr −1 (6.5 ± 1.3% yr −1 ).