Retrieving the vertical distribution of stratospheric OClO from Odin/OSIRIS limb-scattered sunlight measurements

摘要

The first vertical profiles of stratospheric OClO retrieved from Odin/OSIRISlimb-scattered sunlight radiances are presented. The retrieval method isbased on a two-step approach, using differential optical absorptionspectroscopy combined with the maximum a posteriori estimator. The detailsof the spectral window selection, spectral corrections and inversiontechnique are discussed. The results show that OClO can be detected insidethe South polar vortex region between about 14 and 22 km altitude with a 2–5 kmheight resolution and an estimated retrieval error better than 50% atthe peak. OClO concentrations show the expected relation to the atmosphericconditions in the lower stratosphere in the austral spring 2002. This uniquedata set of OClO profiles is very promising to study the stratosphericchlorine activation in both polar regions.