Tropospheric carbon monoxide column density retrieval during Pre-launch MOPITT Validation exercise

The tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO) column density over the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program Southern Great Plains (SGP) Central Facility near Lamont, Oklahoma (latitude 36°37′N, longitude 97°30′W) during the Pre-launch MOPITT Validation Exercise (Pre-MOVE) is retrieved from infrared spectra obtained by the ground-based Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI). This paper reports the first tropospheric CO time series retrieved from an AERI. With spectra measured every 8 min, CO retrieved from AERI spectra has a much higher temporal resolution than from any other ground-based instrument measuring atmospheric emission. The retrieved CO column density time series is examined using local meteorological data. Synoptic atmospheric conditions are found to have a controlling effect on tropospheric CO. During 2–4 March, 1998, a southerly to easterly surface wind brought an airmass with higher CO column density over the SGP Central Facility (SGPCF), whereas northerly and/or westerly surface winds tended to reduce the CO column density.