Spectroscopic measurements of atmospheric carbon monoxide and methane. 2: Seasonal variations and long-term trends

A spectroscopic technique for measuring CO and CH sub(4) contents is described and the latitudinal distributions of these gases are presented. Carbon monoxide abundance decreases southward, having two local maxima: in midlatitudes and in the tropics. The slope of latitude dependence varies according to the season of the year. The difference in CH sub(4) content does not exceed the accuracy of the method ( plus or minus 8%).