Correlation of aerosol and carbon monoxide at 45 degrees S: Evidence of biomass burning emissions

Altitude profiles of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and aerosols have been compared f rom the Network for Stratospheric Change (NDSC) mid-latitude southern hemis phere site at Lauder, New Zealand. The CO mixing ratio profile was derived from infrared spectra recorded with a very high resolution Fourier Transfor m interferometer using three lines of the (1-0) band between 2057 and 2160 cm(-1). The aerosol surface area was derived from balloon-borne backscatter radiation at 940 nm. Both datasets show significant enhancements occurring over the observation site in the austral spring;. When displayed together their combined effect illustrates the close correlation between CO and aero sols. Peak concentrations are consistently recorded between September and O ctober over a five year time frame (1994-1999), with the enhancements typic ally occurring at heights of between 3 to 8 km. The temporal and spatial co rrelation between the aerosol plumes and enhanced CO concentrations are int erpreted in terms of the effect of long range transport of biomass burning: plumes in combination with the: Fl Nine-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles influence on southern hemisphere climate dynamics.