Collection and analysis of atmospheric ozone samples

Anomalies found in the isotope ratios of ozone are traceable to the ozone formation process. Metastable electronic states may be responsible for the preferred production of the heavy molecules. While laboratory isotope data and first tropospheric results agree well in the magnitude of isotope enrichments, stratospheric measurements show often higher values. Only through the collection of ozone samples can sufficiently large amounts of gas be obtained to analyze the three isotopes ⁴⁸O₃, ⁴⁹O₃, and ⁵⁰O₃. Collector systems have been developed and successfully operated in the troposphere and in the stratosphere. They will play in the future an important role in atmospheric oxygen isotope studies.