Measurements of the height variation of sulfuric acid vapor concentrations in the stratosphere

Abstract

Stratosperic sulfuric acid vapour concentrations have been measured in the altitude region from 23.5 to 33 km by the passive chemoionisation mass spectrometry method (PACIMS), in recent years sucessfully introduced by our group for stratospheric trace gas detection. The data agree with current model predictions at most heights. Implications of the present data for the stratosperic sulphur cycle, stratosperic aerosols, and stratosperic ions are discussed.