Vertical Column Abundances of COF2 Above the Jungfraujoch Station, Derived from Ground-Based Infrared Solar Observations

Total vertical column abundances of carbonyl fluoride (COF₂) have been derived from observations made at the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch (ISSJ; altitude 3.58 km, latitude 46.5°N, longitude 8.0°E), Switzerland. A systematic analysis of two microwindows containing lines of the ₁ band was performed, based on a large set of high resolution infrared solar absorption spectra recorded with Fourier transform spectrometers, from 1985 to 1995. Examination of the whole available database indicates a significant increase of the burden of COF₂ during the 1988–1995 period. The average exponential rate and the average linear rate referenced to 1992, calculated from daily mean measurements, are both equal to (4.0 ± 0.5)% yr^-1 (one error). The results are also evaluated and discussed within the context of seasonal variability and correlation between carbonyl fluoride and hydrogen fluoride (HF) columns above the ISSJ.