Nighttime limb emission spectra recorded by the balloon-borne Michelson interferometer for passive atmospheric sounding (MIPAS) on February 11, 1995, near Kiruna were used to infer a vertical profile of ClONO2 as well as estimates of ClO and HOCl volume mixing ratios. The highest ClONO2 mixing ratio <2.6 parts per billion by volume (ppbv)> was found at 22.69 km altitude and is explained by an early recovery of this chlorine reservoir in the upper part of the formerly chlorine-activated height range. Inferred nighttime ClO mixing ratios appear to be rather high for the lower stratosphere (0.38 ppbv at 16.43 km altitude) and indicate chlorine activation at this altitude region. The HOCl mixing ratio is estimated as 0.03 ppbv at 28.04 km altitude, while for lower altitudes the HOCl concentrations are clearly below the detection limit of MIPAS. The measurements are compared with three-dimensional chemical transport model calculations. Results agree reasonably well but show differences in detail.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union