loading page

Measurements of Stratospheric ClO from Mauna Kea: 1992-2023
  • +5
  • Gerald E. Nedoluha,
  • R. Michael Gomez,
  • Ian Boyd,
  • Helen Neal,
  • Douglas Ray Allen,
  • Alan Parrish,
  • brian connr,
  • David E. Siskind
Gerald E. Nedoluha
Naval Research Laboratory

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
R. Michael Gomez
Naval Research Laboratory
Author Profile
Ian Boyd
Bryan Scientific Consulting
Author Profile
Helen Neal
Bryan Scientific Consulting
Author Profile
Douglas Ray Allen
Naval Research Lab
Author Profile
Alan Parrish
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Author Profile
brian connr
Bryan Scientific Consulting
Author Profile
David E. Siskind
Naval Research Laboratory
Author Profile

Abstract

We present a reanalysis of the ground-based microwave measurements of upper stratospheric ClO from Mauna Kea from 1992-2023. In order to reduce instrumental baseline artifacts from the Chlorine Oxide Experiment (ChlOE) measurements, the retrieval makes use of the difference of daytime and nighttime spectra to produce a day minus night ClO mixing ratio. The trend in the upper stratospheric ChlOE measurements from 1997-2023 was found to be -0.4+/-0.3%/yr (2σ). Comparisons of ChlOE measurements with a combined coincident UARS and Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) dataset shows a relative trend of +0.3%+/-0.3%/yr (2σ) from 1992-2023. Restricting the comparisons to ChlOE and Aura MLS from 2004-2023 results in relative trends that varied by pressure level (3.2hPa, 4.2 hPa, and 5.6 hPa), from +0.15%/yr to +0.42%/yr, all agreeing to within the 2σ uncertainty. From 2004-2021 the average ChlOE trend for the three levels was -0.3+/-0.4%/yr, but, with the addition of the 2022 and 2023 measurements the trend from 2004-2023 becomes 0.0+/-0.4%/yr. The increase in ClO during 2022 is, at least in part, caused by dynamical variations that affect CH4 mixing ratios, which in turn affect the ClO chemistry. The higher ClO in 2023 is closely correlated with the presence of increased H2O from the Hunga eruption which also affects the ClO chemistry.
12 Jul 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
12 Jul 2024Published in ESS Open Archive