Airborne measurements of oxygen concentration from the surface to the lower stratosphere and pole to pole

We describe our sampling and measurement techniques and efforts to reduce potential biases. We also present a selection of observational results highlighting the individual and combined instrument performance. These include vertical profiles, O-2 : CO2 correlations, and latitudinal cross sections reflecting the distinct influences of terrestrial photosynthesis, air-sea gas exchange, burning of various fuels, and stratospheric dynamics.

When present, we have corrected the flask delta(O-2/N-2) measurements for fractionation during sampling or analysis with the use of the concurrent delta(Ar/N-2) measurements. We have also corrected the in situ delta(O-2 /N-2) measurements for inlet fractionation and hu- midity effects by comparison to the corrected flask values. A comparison of Ar/N-2-corrected Medusa flask delta(O-2/N-2) measurements to regional Scripps O-2 Program station observations shows no systematic biases over 10 recent campaigns (+0 :2 +/- 8 :2 per meg, mean and standard deviation, n = 86).

For AO2, after resolving sample drying and inlet fractionation biases previously on the order of 10-100 per meg, independent AO2 delta(O-2/N-2) measurements over six more recent campaigns differ from coincident Medusa flask measurements by -0:3 +/- 7:2 per meg (mean and standard deviation, n = 1361) with campaign-specific means ranging from -5 to +5 per meg.