Multiyear infrared solar spectroscopic measurements of HCN, CO, C2H6,and C2H2 tropospheric columns above Lauder, New Zealand (45°S latitude) -: art. no. 4185

[1] Near-simultaneous, 0.0035 or 0.007 cm(-1) resolution infrared solar absorption spectra of tropospheric HCN, C2H2, CO, and C2H6 have been recorded from the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change station in Lauder, New Zealand (45.04degreesS, 169.68degreesE, 0.37 km altitude). All four molecules were measured on over 350 days with HCN and C2H2 reported for the first time based on a new analysis procedure that significantly increases the effective signal-to-noise of weak tropospheric absorption features in the measured spectra. The CO measurements extend by 2.5 years a database of measurements begun in January 1994 for CO with improved sensitivity in the lower and middle troposphere. The C2H6 measurements lengthen a time series begun in July 1993 with peak sensitivity in the upper troposphere. Retrievals of all four molecules were obtained with an algorithm based on the semiempirical application of the Rodgers optimal estimation technique. Columns are reported for the 0.37- to 12-km-altitude region, approximately the troposphere above the station. The seasonal cycles of all four molecules are asymmetric, with minima in March-June and sharp peaks and increased variability during August-November, which corresponds to the period of maximum biomass burning near the end of the Southern Hemisphere tropical dry season. Except for a possible HCN column decrease, no evidence was found for a statistically significant long-term trend.