Recent Developments in High Altitude Aircraft Sampling: Mount St. Helens and Stratospheric Trace Gases

In the last decade a high pressure gas sampling system mounted in the Department of Energy´s high altitude WB-57F aircraft has provided information on stratospheric concentrations of 14CO2, 222Rn, 85Kr, CCl3F, CCl2F2, CCl4, N2O, CO2 and SF6. To provide information on other trace gases found in the stratosphere, a new ultra-clean smaller volume gas sampling system was designed for installation on the aircraft. The new equipment has been flow successfully on three flights, and analytical data from these flights are discussed. Special flights intercepted the plume from the Mount St. Helens eruption of May 18, 1980 and provided information on the concentration of 222Rn.