Abstract
Atmospheric ion composition measurements were recently extended downwards to the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere following development of a new aircraft-borne mass spectrometer technique. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these measurements is that they can serve as a powerful tool for neutral trace gas detection in passive chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (PACIMS). However, the measurements, in particular those of positive ions, suffer from a poor mass resolution which complicates ion identification and the PACIMS application. Here we report improved positive-ion composition measurements in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, using an improved aircraft-borne mass spectrometer with higher mass resolution and sensitivity than hitherto achieved.
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Hauck, G., Arnold, F. Improved positive-ion composition measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and the detection of acetone. Nature 311, 547–550 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311547a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311547a0
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