An instrument for nitric oxide measurements in the stratosphere

Abstract
A completely automatic chemiluminescent instrument has been developed for in situmeasurements of NO in the stratosphere. Signal intensity is linear in NO. Typical responsivity at 21.3 km is 1860 counts/sec ppbv. With a 1 sec measuring time constant, the detection limit as determined by noise is 0.03 ppbv. The instrument has been flown from balloon platforms to 30.8 km and from aircraft platforms between 12.2. and 18.3 km.