A study of the vertical distribution of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) in the midlatitude stratosphere

The vertical distribution of the CH₃Cl mixing ratio in the stratosphere has been measured from samples collected during two balloon flights on the 21 October 1982 and 10 September 1983. Measurements were made with two analytical techniques that were also employed for previous analyses of stratospheric samples: gas chromatography (GC) and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) combination. The results from all balloon flights performed to date are combined to derive an average experimental profile of CH₃Cl at midlatitudes. The profile shows that the CH₃Cl mixing ratio decreases by about one order of magnitude between 20 and 30 km altitude. A comparison of the new observations with model profiles reveals discrepancies in the lower stratosphere that amount to a factor of about 3. Possible causes for these discrepancies are discussed.