A new Michelson-type interferometer system operating in the infrared at very high resolution (0.002--0.003 cm-1 full width at half maximum) has been used to record numerous balloon-borne solar absorption spectra of the stratosphere, ground-based solar absorption spectra, and laboratory spectra of molecules of atmospheric interest. In the present work we report results obtained for several important stratospheric trace gases, HNO3, CONO2, HO2NO2, NO2, and COF2 in the 8- to 12-μm spectral region. Many new features of these gases have been identified in the stratospheric spectra. Comparison of the new spectra with line-by-line simulations shows that previous spectral line parameters are often inadequate and that new analysis of high-resolution laboratory and atmopheric spectra and improved theoretical calculations will be required for many bands. Preliminary versions of several sets of improved line parameters under development are discussed. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989