SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENT OF HO2, H2O2 AND OH IN THE STRATOSPHERE

Stratospheric concentrations of HO2, H2O2, and OH have been retrieved simultaneously from the far infrared emission spectra obtained with a balloon-borne Fourier transform spectrometer in June 1983 at 32-degrees-N latitude. Retrieved concentrations of HO2 and H2O2 are reported in this paper, along with vertical distributions of OH which were reported in an earlier paper for the afternoon, sunset, and nighttime periods for altitudes from 26 to 38 km. HO2 distributions are obtained with uncertainties that are about the same as OH for the same vertical range and for the afternoon and sunset periods. H2O2 concentrations is obtained at an altitude of 30 km for the period that covers afternoon and sunset hours. The retrieved concentrations of these HOx species agree well with other individually measured results and the steady state photochemical predictions. The ratio HO2/OH at around 32 km seems to increase from the afternoon period to the sunset period.