Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) offers a unique opportunity to investigate the variability of mid-tropospheric CO_2 over the entire globe. In this paper, we use AIRS data to examine the interannual variability of CO_2 and find significant correlations between AIRS mid-tropospheric CO_2 and large-scale atmospheric dynamics. During El Nio events, mid-tropospheric CO_2 over the central Pacific Ocean is enhanced whereas it is reduced over the western Pacific Ocean as a result of the change in the Walker circulation. The variation of AIRS CO_2 in the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere is closely related to the strength of the northern hemispheric annular mode. These results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of large-scale dynamics on tracer distributions.
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