VERTICAL PROFILING USING A COMPLEMENTARY KITE AND TETHERED BALLOON PLATFORM AT FERRYLAND-DOWNS, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA - OBSERVATION OF A DRY, OZONE-RICH PLUME IN THE FREE TROPOSPHERE

Vertical profiles of ozone mixing ratio, water vapor mixing ratio, and temperature obtained during August 3-13, 1995, at Ferryland Downs, Ne wfoundland, Canada, as part of the North Atlantic Regional Experiment (NARE) demonstrate the use of high-altitude tethered balloons and kite s as measurement platforms. In combination with a novel, fast winching system, previously developed for use with kites, tethered balloons we re used for profiling chemical species and meteorological parameters t o altitudes as high as 7.6 km. Tethered balloon profiling complements profiling with kite systems by expanding the range of wind conditions over which data can be obtained. A total of 65 profiles were collected using these platforms. Elevated ozone mixing ratios highly anticorrel ated with water vapor mixing ratios observed during August 4-7 suggest all upper atmospheric source for ozone-rich air during summertime in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Ozone mixing ratios reaching 100 par ts per billion by volume (ppbv) in this air mass were associated with water vapor mixing ratios as low as 0.1 g kg(-1). Profiles collected d uring August 11-13 demonstrate the use of kite and balloon systems to obtain vertical profiles over a wide range of wind conditions. Ozone m ixing ratios of 65 ppbv were observed at 1 km altitude on August 12, w hile profiles collected on August 13 exhibit no evidence of elevated o zone. These results document the rapid transport of an air mass contai ning elevated ozone levels over the sampling site that would not have been possible with either system alone.