Stratospheric Hydroperoxyl Measurements

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Abstract
The hydroperoxyl radical (HO2) plays a key role in stratospheric chemistry through the HOx catalytic cycle of ozone destruction. Earlier measurements of stratospheric HO2 have given mixed results; some measured mixing ratios greatly exceed theoretical predictions. Measurements of HO2 have now been made with a balloon-borne farinfrared spectrometer. The measured daytime profile is in excellent agreement with theory up to 40 kilometers; above this level the measurements exceed theory by 30 percent, perhaps because of underprediction of ozone at these altitudes. The nighttime HO2 profile is strongly depressed with respect to the daytime profile, in general agreement with theory.