Carbon monoxide measured by the EOS Microwave Limb Sounder on Aura: First results

Atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) is measured by the EOS Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on NASA's recently-launched Aura satellite. Descent has been observed in the 2004-2005 Northern Hemisphere winter polar mesosphere and upper stratosphere. During August and September 2004 enhanced CO was observed in the upper troposphere over India and Tibet. The MLS CO measurements are described and the radiance signal due to the enhanced CO in the upper troposphere is demonstrated.