A climatological study of polar stratospheric clouds (1989–1997) from LIDAR measurements over Dumont d'Urville (Antarctica)

Backscatter lidar data from the French Antarctic base in Dumont d'Urville (66.40°S, 140.01°E), including aerosol background and observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), have been collected since 1989. In the present work we present a climatological study of PSCs, using a data base consisting of almost 90 observations. The seasonal evolution of PSCs, their optical classification, and their relationship with the observation temperature were studied. The first PSC was observed on day number 175 (15 June) and the last on day number 260 (7 September). The characteristic mid‐cloud altitude decreases through the season at a rate of 2.5 km/month. Type Ia, Ib, and II PSCs — identified by their optical properties — have been observed. External mixtures of these types have also been observed. These observations have been related to the local temperature measured by radiosondes. The relationship between PSC type and the period of the winter season was also investigated. Mixed (solid and liquid) type I clouds are mostly observed at the beginning of the winter. Type II clouds are observed only during the coldest period around midwinter, although temperatures below the frost point begin earlier and persist longer than this. Type Ia, solid‐particle, clouds are observed mostly at the end of the winter.     

Stratospheric aerosol measurements in the Arctic winter of 1996/1997 with the M‐55 Geophysika high‐altitude research aircraft

In‐situ aerosol measurements were performed in the northern hemispheric stratosphere up to altitudes of 21 km between 13 November 1996 and 14 January 1997, inside and outside of the polar vortex during the Airborne Polar Experiment (APE) field campaign. These are measurements of particle size distributions with a laser optical particle counter of the FSSP‐300 type operated during 9 flights on the Russian M‐55 high‐altitude research aircraft Geophysika. For specific flights, the FSSP‐300 measurements are compared with balloon‐borne data (launched from Kiruna, Sweden). It was found that the stratospheric aerosol content reached levels well below the background concentrations measured by the NASA operated ER‐2 in 1988/89 in the northern hemisphere. During the APE campaign, no PSC particle formation was observed at flight altitudes although the temperatures were below the NAT condensation point during one flight. The measured correlations between ozone and aerosol give an indication of the subsidence inside the 1996/97 polar vortex. Despite the lower aerosol content in the winter 1996/97 compared to the 1989 background, the heterogeneous reactivity of the aerosol (as calculated from the measured data with additional model input) is comparable. This is due to the dependency of the reactive uptake coefficients on the atmospheric water vapor content. Under the described assumptions the reaction rates on the background aerosol are significantly smaller than for competing gas phase chlorine activation, as can be expected for stratospheric background conditions especially inside the polar vortex.     

An Empirical Method for Estimating Background Stratospheric Aerosol Extinction Profiles over China

The current paper introduces an empirical method for estimating the vertical distribution of background stratospheric aerosol extinction profiles covering the latitude bands of 50±5°N,40±5°N,30±5°N,and 20±5°N and the longitude range of 75 135°E based on Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II aerosol extinction measurements at wavelengths of 1020 nm,525 nm,452 nm,and 386 nm for the volcanically calm years between 1998 2004.With this method,the vertical distribution of stratospheric aerosol extinction coefficients can be estimated according to latitude and wavelength.Comparisons of the empirically calculated aerosol extinction profiles and the SAGE II aerosol measurements show that the empirically calculated aerosol extinction coefficients are consistent with SAGE II values,with relative differences within 10% from 2 km above the tropopause to 33 km,and within 22% from 33 km to 35 km.The empirically calculated aerosol stratospheric optical depths (vertically integrated aerosol extinction coefficient) at the four wavelengths are also consistent with the corresponding SAGE II optical depth measurements,with differences within 2.2% in the altitude range from 2 km above the tropopause to 35 km.     

An analysis of ozone measurements at Cerro Tololo (30°S, 70°W, 2200 m.a.s.l.) in Chile

Increases in tropospheric ozone (O₃) abundance are likely to take place in the near future in the populous and rapidly developing countries in the tropics and subtropics. An accurate evaluation of the future impact of increasing industrial activities in tropical and subtropical areas requires knowledge of the background levels of ozone. New ozone monitoring stations have been installed at several sites by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) since the mid‐90s. We analyze ozone data collected during two years since April 1996 at Cerro Tololo (30°S, 70°W, 2200 m.a.s.l.) some 50 km east from the city of La Serena. In this paper, we describe some of the atmospheric chemistry and meteorology that characterizes the Tololo site. The data show a seasonal variation with maximum mixing ratios in late winter and spring and minimum mixing ratios in late summer and early fall. These variations are most likely associated with the large‐scale subsidence of the Hadley circulation and the location of the subtropical jet stream (STJ). Also, there is a diurnal variation that is probably partly associated with a mountain wind flow which is strongest in late spring and summer months. No significant mixing with marine boundary layer air perturbed by anthropogenic activities is apparent from the data. We find the Cerro Tololo site to be generally representative for background conditions of free‐tropospheric air in the subtropics of the Southern Hemisphere. This work is done within the framework of a larger effort recently started by several Chilean institutions in cooperation with research centers abroad.     

Ground‐based lidar measurements of aerosols during ACE‐2: instrument description, results, and comparisons with other ground‐based and airborne measurements

A micro‐pulse lidar system (MPL) was used to measure the vertical and horizontal distribution of aerosols during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment 2 (ACE‐2) in June and July of 1997. The MPL measurements were made at the Izaña observatory (IZO), a weather station located on a mountain ridge (28°18' N, 16°30' W, 2367 m asl) near the center of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The MPL was used to acquire aerosol backscatter, extinction, and optical depth profiles for normal background periods and periods influenced by Saharan dust from North Africa. System tests and calibration procedures are discussed, and an analysis of aerosol optical profiles acquired during ACE‐2 is presented. MPL data taken during normal IZO conditions (no dust) showed that upslope aerosols appeared during the day and dissipated at night and that the layers were mostly confined to altitudes a few hundred meters above IZO. MPL data taken during a Saharan dust episode on 17 July showed that peak aerosol extinction values were an order of magnitude greater than molecular scattering over IZO, and that the dust layers extended to 5 km asl. The value of the dust backscatter–extinction ratio was determined to be 0.027±0.007 sr⁻¹. Comparisons of the MPL data with data from other co‐located instruments showed good agreement during the dust episode.     

Measurements of aerosol optical depth above 3570 m asl in the North Atlantic free troposphere: results from ACE‐2

As part of the 2nd A erosol C haracterisation E xperiment (ACE‐2), conducted during summer 1997 in the North Atlantic region between the Canary Islands and Portugal, we measured aerosol optical depths (AOD) at a mid‐tropospheric site, near the top of the volcanic mountain "El Teide"(28°16'N, 16°36' W, 3570 m asl). Our instrument was located at the highest altitude in a network of sunphotometers that extended down to sea level. Clear conditions dominated the ACE‐2 period, and, although suggested by back‐trajectories at 300 hPa, no evidence of anthropogenic pollution was found in our data. Three distinct dust episodes were observed. Vertical soundings and back trajectories suggested mineral dust from the Sahel region as a source. During these episodes, AOD increased an order of magnitude with respect to background conditions (from 0.017 up to 0.19 at λ=500 nm). A shift towards neutrality of the extinction spectral dependence (Ångstrom exponent α down to 0.13), indicated that the coarse mode (particle diameter >2 μm) dominated the aerosol size distribution. For 6 days during the episodes of mineral dust, a monomodal size distribution between 2 and 20 μm diameter was obtained from Mie based size distribution calculations. Estimates, at 500 nm, of the single scattering albedo ω₀(0.87–0.96), and the aerosol asymmetry parameter g (0.72–0.73) suggest that the dust layer causes a net cooling forcing at the top of the atmosphere.     

The origin of Antarctic precipitation: a modelling approach

The contribution of different moisture sources to Antarctic precipitation for present‐day and glacial conditions is estimated with the NASA/GISS Atmospheric General Circulation Model. Despite its low horizontal resolution (8°×10°), this model simulates reasonably well the broad features of the observed present‐day hydrological cycle. Simulated present‐day Antarctic precipitation is dominated throughout the year by moisture from a subtropical/midlatitude band (30°S−60°S). The moisture supplied to a given coastal area of Antarctica originates mostly in the adjacent oceanic basin; closer to the pole, other oceanic basins can also contribute significantly. Replacing the present‐day sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea ice cover in the GCM with those from the CLIMAP oceanic reconstruction for the last glacial maximum (LGM), greatly increases the simulated latitudinal temperature gradient, with the consequence of slightly enhancing the contribution of low latitude moisture to Antarctic precipitation. It also changes the seasonality of the different contributions and thus their budget, particularly in coastal regions. Because the nature of LGM tropical SSTs is still under debate, we performed an additional LGM simulation in which the tropical SSTs are reduced relative to those of CLIMAP. The resulting decrease in the latitudinal gradient brings the relative contributions to Antarctic precipitation more in line with those of the present‐day simulation.     

Feedback mechanisms and sensitivities of ocean carbon uptake under global warming

Global warming simulations are performed with a coupled climate model of reduced complexity to investigate global warming–marine carbon cycle feedbacks. The model is forced by emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse agents from scenarios recently developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and by CO₂ stabilization profiles. The uptake of atmospheric CO₂ by the ocean is reduced between 7 to 10% by year 2100 compared to simulations without global warming. The reduction is of similar size in the Southern Ocean and in low‐latitude regions (32.5°S‐32.5°N) until 2100, whereas low‐latitude regions dominate on longer time scales. In the North Atlantic the CO₂ uptake is enhanced, unless the Atlantic thermohaline circulation completely collapses. At high latitudes, biologically mediated changes enhance ocean CO₂ uptake, whereas in low‐latitude regions the situation is reversed. Different implementations of the marine biosphere yield a range of 5 to 16% for the total reduction in oceanic CO₂ uptake until year 2100. Modeled oceanic O₂ inventories are significantly reduced in global warming simulations. This suggests that the terrestrial carbon sink deduced from atmospheric O₂/N₂ observations is potentially overestimated if the oceanic loss of O₂ to the atmosphere is not considered.     

Dimethylsulphide production in the subantarctic southern ocean under enhanced greenhouse conditions

Dimethylsulphide (DMS) is an important sulphur‐containing trace gas produced by enzymatic cleavage of its precursor compound, dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), which is released by marine phytoplankton in the upper ocean. After ventilation to the atmosphere, DMS is oxidised to form sulphate aerosols which in the unpolluted marine atmosphere are a major source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Because the micro‐physical properties of clouds relevant to climate change are sensitive to CCN concentration in air, it has been postulated that marine sulphur emissions may play a rôle in climate regulation. The Subantarctic Southern Ocean (41–53°S) is relatively free of anthropogenic sulphur emissions, thus sulphate aerosols will be mainly derived from the biogenic source of DMS, making it an ideal region in which to evaluate the DMS‐climate regulation hypothesis. We have extended a previous modelling analysis of the DMS cycle in this region by employing a coupled general circulation model (CGCM) which has been run in transient mode to provide a more realistic climate scenario. The CGCM output provided meteorological data under the IPCC/IS92a radiative forcing scenario. A DMS production model has been forced with the CGCM climate data to simulate the trend in the sea‐to‐air DMS flux for the period 1960 to 2080, corresponding to equivalent CO₂ tripling relative to pre‐industrial levels. The results confirm a minor but non‐negligible increase in DMS flux in this region, in the range +1% to +6% predicted over the period simulated. Uncertainty analysis of the DMS model predictions have confirmed the positive sign for the change in DMS flux, that is a negative DMS feedback on warming.     

Mean structure of the tropical tropopause and its variability over the Indian longitude sector

The mean spatiotemporal variations in tropopause parameters over the tropics (±35°, in latitude) in the Indian monsoon region are examined using the upper air data for an extended period obtained from radiosonde and Radio Occultation measurements. In general, the altitude of cold point tropopause (CPT) is a minimum near the equator and increases with latitude on either side. While CPT over the entire southern tropical latitudes and northern equatorial region is cooler (higher) during boreal winter and warmer (lower) during boreal summer, the annual pattern of CPT-temperature reverses in the northern hemispheric off-equatorial region. The temperature of lapse rate tropopause (LRT) is always negatively correlated with its altitude. While the annual variation of LRT-temperature in tropics is always positively correlated with CPT-temperature, the annual variation of LRT-altitude differs mainly in the off-equatorial regions. While the altitude of the convective tropopause is positively correlated with CPT-altitude over the latitude region 20°S–5°N, they are negatively correlated at the north of 10°N. In general, the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) is very thin (~3 km) near the equator and its thickness increases with latitude on either side of the equator to reach a peak value (of ~6 km) around ±30°. A pronounced decrease in TTL-thickness observed over the northern off-equatorial region during the ASM period can be attributed to the manifestation of very deep convection over the land near the Head Bay-of-Bengal region. The TTL-lapse-rate (γ_TTL) is large in the equatorial region and decreases with increase in latitude. While γ_TTL in the northern hemispheric off-equatorial region is low during winter, it increases and becomes comparable to that over equatorial region during the ASM period. The annual variations in CPT parameters as well as the TTL- thickness are significantly modulated by quasi-biennial oscillation and the El Niño Southern Oscillation.     

The 1985 chlorine and fluorine inventories in the stratosphere based on ATMOS observations at 30° north latitude

The set of high-resolution infrared solar observations made with the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS)-Fourier transform spectrometer from onboard Spacelab 3 (30 April-1 May 1985) has been used to evaluate the total budgets of the odd chlorine and fluorine chemical families in the stratosphere. These budgets are based on volume mixing ratio profiles measured for HCl, HF, CH₃Cl, ClONO₂, CCl₄, CCl₂F₂, CCl₃F, CHClF₂, CF₄, COF₂, and SF₆ near 30° north latitude. When including realistic concentrations for species not measured by ATMOS, i.e., the source gases CH₃CCl₃ and C₂F₃Cl₃ below 25 km, and the reservoirs ClO, HOCl and COFCl between 15 and 40 km (five gases actually measured by other techniques), the 30° N zonal 1985 mean total mixing ratio of chlorine, Cl, was found to be equal to (2.58±0.10) ppbv (parts per billion by volume) throughout the stratosphere, with no significant decrease near the stratopause. The results for total fluorine indicate a slight, but steady, decrease of its volume mixing ratio with increasing altitude, around a mean stratospheric value of (1.15±0.12) ppbv. Both uncertainties correspond to one standard deviation. These mean springtime 1985 stratospheric budgets are commensurate with values reported for the tropospheric Cl and F concentrations in the early 1980s, when allowance is made for the growth rates of their source gases at the ground and the time required for tropospheric air to be transported into the stratosphere. The results are discussed with emphasis on conservation of fluorine and chlorine and the partitioning among source, sink, and reservoir gases throughout the stratosphere.     

Seasonal and Diurnal Ozone Variations: Observations and Modeling

Ozone mixing ratios observed by the Bordeaux microwave radiometer between 1995 and 2002 in an altitude range 25–75 km show diurnal variations in the mesosphere and seasonal variations in terms of annual and semi-annual oscillations (SAO) in the stratosphere and in the mesosphere. The observations with 10–15 km altitude resolution are presented and compared to photochemical and transport model results.Diurnal ozone variations are analyzed by averaging the years 1995–1997 for four representative months and six altitude levels. The photochemical models show a good agreement with the observations for altitudes higher than 50 km. Seasonal ozone variations mainly appear as an annual cycle in the middle and upper stratosphere and a semi-annual cycle in the mesosphere with amplitude and phase depending on altitude. Higher resolution (2 km) HALOE (halogen occultation experiment) ozone observations show a phase reversal of the SAO between 44 and 64 km. In HALOE data, a tendancy for an opposite water vapour cycle can be identified in the altitude range 40–60 km.Generally, the relative variations at all altitudes are well explained by the transport model (up to 54 km) and the photochemical models. Only a newly developed photochemical model (1-D) with improved time-dependent treatment of water vapour profiles and solar flux manages to reproduce fairly well the absolute values.     

Excess 210Po in the coastal atmosphere

Many researchers have reported the widespread occurrence of excess ²¹⁰ Po in the global atmosphere and suggested probable sources such as resuspension of top soils, stratospheric aerosols, sea spray of the surface micro‐layer, volcanic emission, and bio‐volatile ²¹⁰Po species from the productive ocean. We have observed excess ²¹⁰Po on aerosols in the coastal atmosphere of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. On‐board measurements in the Chesapeake Bay atmosphere show that the increase of this excess ²¹⁰Po is dependent upon wind speed. Simultaneously measured activity ratios of ⁷Be/²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Pb/²²²Rn argue against either higher altitude air or continental soils as the source of this excess. We hypothesize that the excess ²¹⁰Po originates mainly from surface waters either by the sea‐spray of the surface microlayer, or more likely, by gas exchange. We conclude gas exchange as the mechanism since the polonium excess increases linearly with wind speed over a threshold of 3 m s⁻¹(mean) similar to other gases (i.e., CO₂, SF₆ , and DMS). In addition, higher ²¹⁰Po excess with lower ²²²Rn is observed in on‐shore marine air at Lewes, DE. This suggests sea‐air exchange of volatile Po along with other bio‐volatile species (i.e., DMS, DMSe, and MMHg) in the coastal productive ocean during high wind speeds.     

Measurements of Trace Substances in the Arctic Troposphere as Potential Precursors and Constituents of Arctic Haze

During two measuring campaigns in early spring 1994 and 1995 (March/April) and one campaign in summer 1994, measurements of ozone, PAN, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, and particulate nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium (only 1995) were recorded in the Arctic. Observations were made by aircraft at various sites in the eastern and western Arctic. Ozone concentrations showed a steady increase with altitude both in spring and summer. During five flights in springtime, low ozone events (LOEs) could be observed near the surface and up to altitudes of 2000 m. SO₂ background concentrations, ranging from detection limit (0.5 nmol/m³) to 5 nmol/m³, were observed during both spring and summer. Distinct maxima up to 55 nmol/m³ in lower altitudes were only obtained in springtime. Concentrations of the organic nitrate PAN were within a similar range as those of the inorganic nitrate HNO₃ during spring campaigns. In contrast, concentrations of particulate nitrate were one half an order of magnitude lower. HNO₃ concentrations increased significantly with altitude. Evidently, HNO₃ was intruded from the stratosphere into the troposphere. Sulfate concentrations ranged between 5 and 30 nmol/m³; ammonium concentrations were obtained within a range from 10 to 50 nmol/m³.     

1980—2009年中国东部上空温度变化特征

采用中国地区137个探空站及地面160站资料,分析了1980—2009年中国东部上空温度变化特征。近30年来中国东部对流层上层至平流层中下层的降温幅度大于对流层中下层的增温幅度。东北地区上空温度季节变化幅度较大,东南地区上空温度季节变化幅度较小。中国东部中低空（近地面至500 hPa）温度在不同区域、不同季节对全球变暖的响应不同：35°N以北无降温,以南有降温;冬季均升温,夏季有降温。     

Altitude profile and sunset decay measurements of stratospheric nitric oxide

In July 1974 an NO/O₃ chemiluminescent instrument was used to obtain measurements of NO in the stratosphere during two balloon flights launched from Churchill (59°N, 95°W). On the first flight, an altitude profile was obtained in which the NO volume mixing ratio was observed to increase from 0.3 to 2.7 ppbv between 19 and 29.5 km. On the second flight, the mixing ratio was observed to increase from 0.25 to 2.7 ppbv between 19 and 29 km and to remain almost constant at about 2.7 ppbv from 29 to 34.5 km. On this flight, the sunset decay of NO was also obtained while the payload was at a constant float altitude of 34.5 km. These decay measurements are compared satisfactorily with the results obtained from a time dependent stratospheric model.     

雷暴中双极性窄脉冲事件的位置与辐射强度

双极性窄脉冲事件（NBE）是一类特殊的大气放电现象,能产生强甚低频/低频（VLF/LF）和甚高频（VHF）辐射。为了探索NBE发生的气象环境和放电特性,选出重庆双频段闪电定位网络在一次雷暴过程中观测到的608次正极性NBE（简称正NBE）和82次负极性NBE（简称负NBE）,对比发生位置和辐射强度。结果表明:正NBE主要分布于7~15 km高度处,归一化到距离辐射源100 km处的VLF/LF电场变化峰值的平均值为13.4 V·m-1,平均VHF辐射功率为73.5 kW。负NBE主要发生在两个高度范围,72例负NBE分布于16~20 km高度,它们倾向于发生在30~35 dBZ回波顶高大于18 km的对流云顶及附近,其平均归一化VLF/LF电场变化峰值为42.7 V·m-1,平均VHF辐射功率为76.9 kW。10例负NBE分布于4~8 km高度,全部发生于对流核内部。其平均归一化的VLF/LF电场变化峰值为2.7 V·m-1,平均VHF辐射功率为18.2 kW。从统计结果看,在VLF/LF频段,上部负NBE的辐射强度普遍强于正NBE和下部负NBE;在VHF频段,上部负NBE的辐射强度与正NBE基本相当,大于下部负NBE;下部负NBE在两个频段的辐射通常弱于正NBE。     

Stratospheric aerosol sulfuric acid: First direct in situ measurements using a novel balloon-based mass spectrometer apparatus

The first direct in situ measurements of the sulfuric acid contained in stratospheric aerosol particles were made using a novel balloon-based Ion Molecule Reaction Mass Spectrometer instrument (IMRMS) equipped with an aerosol vaporizer. The IMRMS method employed offers direct aerosol sulfuric acid measurements with high spatial resolution. The balloon flight took place on 23 October 1995 in middle latitudes (44°N) and reached a maximum altitude of 24 km. Measured molecular number densities of aerosol sulfuric acid decreased with increasing altitude from about 2.9 × 109 cm-3 at 15km altitude to about 2.4 × 108 cm-3 at 21 km. Corresponding mass mixing ratios are 2.5 and 0.6 ppbm, respectively. Calculated sulfuric acid mixing ratios from aerosol volumes inferred from aerosol size distribution measurements on the same balloon agree well with the IMRMS data using standard assumption aerosol composition.     

9914号台风降水云系雨强的三维结构初探

利用TRMM卫星的测雨雷达资料，研究了9914号台风降水云系在3个不同时次雨强的水平和垂直结构。结果表明：3个时次层状云降水在像素数量上及对总降水量的贡献上均比对流性降水大；3个时次层状云降水和对流性降水的平均雨强均随台风强度加强有较大的增幅；对流性降水与层状云降水的雨强的垂直廓线有明显的差别，但两类降水廓线本身在3个时次差别不大。对流性降水廓线按斜率不同大致分为3段，雨强均随高度减小，5～6km高度段减速最快。层状云降水廓线大致分为4段，在4．5km高度附近出现明显的亮带结构。     

基于多源数据的“利奇马”台风大气环流、云及降水特征分析

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、FY-4A静止卫星资料对“利奇马”生命过程的大气环流特征、云宏观特征进行了分析。针对“利奇马”超强台风期间的一次降水过程,利用GPM卫星的双频降水雷达(Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar,DPR)资料对其进行了宏微观特征分析。结果表明:在“利奇马”生命过程中,西太平洋副热带高压、40°N以北的高空槽脊、(35°N,80°E)的高压以及“罗莎”台风对“利奇马”的发展、移动均产生了重要的影响;其云系分布先后表现为螺旋状、逗点状、中心对称结构以及不规则形状,其南北两侧的云区范围、云顶高度也不断变化;在“利奇马”超强台风期间的一次降水过程中,近地表降水率大致呈环状分布,降水粒子浓度以及降水粒子半径的南北分布与东西分布相差较大,除了云墙降水为对流降水外,其他部分的降水以层云降水为主,层云降水对应的雨顶高度在4.5~12 km,主要集中在5.5~10 km;对流降水对应的雨顶高度在1~12 km,主要集中在2~5 km和6~11 km。