Spectrometric measurements of atmospheric propane (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>)

Abstract. We report measurements of atmospheric C3H8 from analysis ground-based solar absorption spectra the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) MkIV interferometer. Using strong Q-branch feature at 2967 cm?1, we can measure in locations where its abundance is enhanced by proximity to sources (e.g., large natural gas fields, megacities). A case study Fort Sumner, New Mexico, shows that amounts are strongly correlated with ethane (C2H6) and back-trajectories SE Mexico western Texas, Permian Basin oil field located. Measurements JPL, California, also show enhancements on certain days but more CO than C2H6. From high-altitude balloon-borne occultation measurements, was not detected any altitude (5–40 km) 25 flights.