Recent Results from High Resolution Infrared Atmospheric and Laboratory Fourier Transform Spectra

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, SF6 and 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.