Inferring the vertical distribution of CO and CO.sub.2 from TCCON total column values using the TARDISS algorithm

We describe an approach for determining limited information about the vertical distribution of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from total column ground-based Total Carbon Column Observation Network (TCCON) observations. For CO and CO.sub.2, it has been difficult to retrieve information about their vertical distribution from spectral line shapes because of the errors in the spectroscopy and the atmospheric temperature profile that mask the effects of variations in their mixing ratio with altitude. For CO.sub.2 the challenge is especially difficult given that these variations are typically 2 % or less. Nevertheless, if sufficient accuracy can be obtained, such information would be highly valuable for evaluation of retrievals from satellites and more generally for improving the estimate of surface sources and sinks of these trace gases.