Model Analysis of Multi-Platform Measurements in the Stratosphere

The composition of the Earth's atmosphere is measured by different platforms, such as satellite, aircraft, and balloons. Occasionally, these platforms sample the same air masses. Such episodes are particularly attractive for validation studies of different instruments and model analysis of these measurements.

As a case study, we investigated the event on April 30, 1997, when almost coincident measurements by satellites (Microwave Limb Sounder aboard Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer aboard Advanced Earth Observing Satellite), aircraft (ER-2), and balloon occurred near 65N-68N. The AER photochemical box model with sulfate aerosol microphysics is applied to analyze these measurements. The air trajectories are used to facilitate comparison between model calculations and measurements made by different instruments. Major findings and related uncertainties are discussed.