... involved in ozone depletion by forming Polar Stratospheric Clouds
(PSC) and as the source of the radical molecule OH,
... a tracer that helps studying atmospheric motion.
The Institute of Applied Physics has built an airborne microwave radiometer
(AMSOS) that can measure the vertical distribution of water vapor and ozone from the upper
troposphere up to the mesosphere with main focus on water vapor. This reults in a two dimensional cut through the atmosphere
along the flight track. Beside this airborne instrument our institute
operates also the ground-based instruments GROMOS
for ozone at Bern and MIAWARA for water vapor
at Bern-Zimmerwald within NDACC.
We have flown this instrument onboard the
Swiss Air Force Learjet 35A T-781 about once per year from 1994 to 2007.
This aircraft is usually used to transport politicians and diplomats. A typical flight campaign
takes about one week covering as many latitudes between equator and
North pole.