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SAM 2 measurements of the polar stratospheric aerosol. Volume 9: October 1982 - April 1983The Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM) II sensor aboard Nimbus 7 is providing 1.0 micron extinction measurements of Antarctic and Arctic stratospheric aerosols with a vertical resolution of 1 km. Representative examples and weekly averages including corresponding temperature profiles provided by NOAA for the time and place of each SAM II measurement are presented. Contours of aerosol extinction as a function of altitude and longitude or time are plotted, and aerosol optical depths are calculated for each week. Typical values of aerosol extinction and stratospheric optical depth in the Arctic are unusually large due to the presence of material from the El Chichon volcano eruption in the Spring of 1982. For example, the optical depth peaked at 0.068, more than 50 times background values. Typical values of aerosol extinction and stratospheric optical depth in the Antarctic varied considerably during this period due to the transport and arrival of the material from the El Chichon eruption. For example, the stratospheric optical depth varied from 0.002 in October 1982, to 0.021 in January 1983. Polar stratospheric clouds were observed during the Arctic winter, as expected. A representative sample is provided of the ninth 6-month period of data to be used in atmospheric and climatic studies.
Document ID
19910009192
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - NASA Reference Publication (RP)
Authors
Mcmaster, L. R.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA., United States)
Powell, K. A.
(ST Systems Corp. Hampton, VA., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1991
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
L-16802-VOL-9
NASA-RP-1244
NAS 1.61:1244
Accession Number
91N18505
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 665-10-40-04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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