OH DIURNAL BEHAVIOR, 1996

New Mexico:

Shown below is the average diurnal behavior for all 1996 New Mexico data (357 individual measurements).

The x axis is the secant of the solar zenith angle. A value of one corresponds to the sun directly overhead; larger values to the left of one are morning measurements and values to the right are for afternoon. The secant of the solar zenith angle is a relevant quantity in the primary production of OH: it determines the slant path absorption of UV by ozone which controls the local actinic flux, and therefore the rate of ozone photolysis and production of metastable O(1D), which, through reaction with water vapor, forms OH.

The data points are 1996 averages within each secant interval. The error bars indicate the standard deviation of the mean for each poiint. The solid curve shows the average duirnal behavior from Colorado over the period 1980-88.

Fritz Peak, Colorado:

Here is the average diurnal behavior for all 1996 Fritz data.

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