Abstract

High resolution (0.002-0.003 cm⁻¹) Michelson type interferometer systems have been used at the University of Denver since 1987 to obtain infrared solar absorption spectra of the stratosphere during several balloon flights ( 37 km), as well as ground-based solar spectra and laboratory spectra of molecules of stratospheric and tropospheric interest. The stratospheric spectra cover the 700-2200 cm⁻¹ region and show many new spectral features of important atmospheric gases such as O₃ (including ¹⁸O and ¹⁷O isotopic species), NO₂, HNO₃, O₂, N₂, COF₂, ClONO₂, SF₆and others. The new spectral features are enhanced by the high resolution and long path spectra obtained during sunrise and sunset. Also, new features appear as the concentrations of some trace gases increases in the atmosphere. An ongoing project of high resolution stratospheric atlas, documents the stratospheric spectral features in selected regions.

© 1993 Optical Society of America