Constraints on 2-Way Transport across the Arctic Tropopause Based on O3, Stratospheric Tracer (SF6) Ages, and Water Vapor Isotope (D, T) Tracers

Based upon airborne trace gas and isotope observations in the winter months 1991/1992 to1994/1995, transport pathways across the mid-latitude and Arctic tropopause areinvestigated. A powerful set of contrasting transport tracers are examined, such asdeuterated water vapor (HDO) which is shown to trace the passage of water vapor from thetroposphere into the lowermost stratosphere (LS), or the `SF₆ age' defined as theresidence time of an air parcel within the stratosphere since its entry at thetropopause. Cross-tropopause transport in both directions was found near mid-latitudecyclones (at baroclinic flanks of troughs in the polar front), in which about 80% of thestratosphere-to-troposphere flux proceeded along potential temperature ()surfaces of 300 ± 10 K. As these isentropes are the lowest which reach into the LS(in winter), a mixing zone just above the Arctic tropopause (at least 1.5 km thick) isformed. Here, upwelling tropospheric air is mixed with downwelling LS air which isaffected by air from higher altitudes, the surf-zone and the polar vortex. The observedelevated D/H isotope ratio of water vapor within the mixing zone can be explained byinjection of subtropical water vapor that is transported to the tropopause by the warmconveyor belt associated with mid-latitude cyclones. Downward vertical transport ofArctic LS air, which may be influenced by ouflowing chemically disturbed polar vortexair, into the Arctic troposphere was found to be small.     

Stratosphere-troposphere exchange and its specific features at extratropical latitudes

A review of the papers dealing with various aspects of stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) is presented. The development of STE concepts is described and quantitative estimates of STE obtained by different authors are given. Typical time scales and geographic features of STE are described. Special attention is given to the specific features of STE at extratropical latitudes where active vertical air transport is observed in both directions. The air ascent through the tropopause occurs there in the zones of warm conveyor belts, and the air descent takes place in the zones of stratospheric intrusions. Exchange processes in the key region including the upper troposphere and the lowermost stratosphere are described. The mechanisms of large-scale stratospheric intrusions in the systems of tropopause folds or cut-off lows are presented as well as the mechanisms of the mixing of the stratospheric air with the tropospheric one. Specific features of deep stratospheric intrusions are discussed which are based on the analysis of such indicators of stratospheric air as high concentrations of ozone and stratospheric radionuclide 7Be. Some aspects of stratosphere-troposphere energy exchange are considered.     

青藏高原上空H2O和CH4的分布和变化趋势分析

采用UARS卫星1993—2004年卤素掩星试验的观测资料(HALOE),分析了青藏高原(下称高原)上空大气中H2O和CH4的分布和季节变化,也与同纬度其它地区作对比,找出它们的差异,并分析了H2O和CH4的多年变化趋势。结果表明:高原上空H2O混合比在对流层上层随高度迅速减少,在对流层顶和平流层底达到极小值,平流层里水汽混合比随高度增加。高原上空CH4混合比从140 hPa直至1 hPa随高度递减。在对流层上部和平流层下部H2O和CH4混合比季节差异最明显。高原上空H2O和CH4混合比与同纬度带其它地区相比有不少差异,这种差异在对流层上部和平流层下部更明显。分析还表明:高原上空对流层上部和平流层下部H2O和CH4的分布明显受到高原热力作用引起的垂直运动的影响,高原区域是平流层和对流层交换的活跃区。平流层中上层H2O和CH4的关系很密切,其原因主要是在平流层中上层CH4很容易被氧化成H2O。趋势分析表明,在对流层顶附近,水汽在1993—2004年呈下降趋势,而CH4在1998年以前和2001年以后也呈下降趋势;平流层中层1993—2000年H2O混合比呈增加趋势,CH4呈下降趋势,2000—2004年H2O混合比呈下降趋势,而CH4呈增加趋势。     

The vertical sulfur dioxide distribution at the tropopause level

In 1978–1980 nine aircraft flights to an altitude of up to 15 km were made over western Europe. Sulfur dioxide was measured with a sensitive chemiluminescence method consisting of separate sampling and analysis stages and application of a wet chemical filter procedure (detection limit: 8 pptv SO₂).The measurements performed in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere lead to some unexpected results: (a) the meteorological conditions at the tropopause level have an important influence on the observed SO₂ mixing ratio; (b) between the 500 mb and the actual tropopause level the SO₂ mixing ratio is found to be <100 pptv, and weak vertical gradients of SO₂ suggest only a small flux of tropospheric SO₂ into the stratosphere; (c) increasing SO₂ mixing ratios within the first kilometers of the stratosphere give strong support to a stratospheric source of SO₂.In the light of improved one-dimensional models considering the vertical distribution of stratospheric sulfur compounds (Crutzen, 1981; Turco et al. 1981) it can be shown that the oxidation of organic sulfur compounds (e.g., OCS, CS₂) seems to be a stratospheric source of SO₂. Furthermore, the flux calculations based on the SO₂ mixing ratios measured at the tropopause level indicate that the contribution of tropospheric (man-made) SO₂ to the stratospheric aerosol layer is of only minor importance.     

北半球平流层极涡崩溃早晚的环流特征及其对5月南亚降水的影响

本文采用1979—2014年NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料、CMAP和GPCP月平均降水资料,分析了北半球平流层极涡崩溃早晚的环流特征及其与南亚降水的关系。结果表明,北半球平流层极涡崩溃时间存在明显的年际变化特征。极涡崩溃偏早(偏晚)年,自3月开始异常信号从平流层向下传播,之后的4月,从平流层到对流层高层极区温度异常偏高(偏低),极涡异常偏弱(偏强),极夜急流异常偏弱(偏强)。结果还表明,5月南亚降水异常与平流层极涡崩溃时间的早晚存在显著相关,5月南亚降水异常与平流层极涡崩溃早晚年平流层异常信号的下传有关。当平流层极涡崩溃偏晚年,4月平流层极区表现为位势高度异常偏低,而中纬度则位势高度场异常偏高,并伴随位势高度异常场的向下传播,5月该位势高度异常场下传至阿拉伯海北部大陆上空对流层顶,形成有利于降水的环流场,导致南亚降水偏多。反之,则相反。     

两类极区平流层异常增温的特征及其与850hPa温度的关系

采用NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料,将冬季极区平流层增温分为两种类型:Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型,并分析了两种类型增温的特征、机制及其与850hPa温度的关系。结果表明,波动强迫的强度和对流层的热量能否向上到达平流层是决定两类平流层异常增温的两个主要因素。Ⅰ型平流层增温期间,对流层也表现出了明显的增温特征,850hPa与平流层温度距平场呈现相当正压结构,极区和中纬度异常表现为反位相的振荡,呈现典型的北极涛动的特征;Ⅱ型平流层异常增温期间,增温异常仅局限在平流层范围内,平流层的中低层与高层呈现反位相的距平分布,850hPa温度距平场呈现无规则的分布特征。     

Satellite Measurements of the Madden–Julian Oscillation in Wintertime Stratospheric Ozone over the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia

We investigate the Madden–Julian Oscillation(MJO) signal in wintertime stratospheric ozone over the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia using the harmonized dataset of satellite ozone profiles. Two different MJO indices — the all-season Real-Time multivariate MJO index(RMM) and outgoing longwave radiation-based MJO index(OMI) — are used to compare the MJOrelated ozone anomalies. The results show that there are pronounced eastward-propagating MJO-related stratospheric ozone anomalies(mainly within 20–200 h Pa) over the subtropics. The negative stratospheric ozone anomalies are over the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia in MJO phases 4–7, when MJO-related tropical deep convective anomalies move from the equatorial Indian Ocean towards the western Pacific Ocean. Compared with the results based on RMM, the MJO-related stratospheric column ozone anomalies based on OMI are stronger and one phase ahead. Further analysis suggests that different sampling errors, observation principles and retrieval algorithms may be responsible for the discrepancies among different satellite measurements. The MJO-related stratospheric ozone anomalies can be attributed to the MJO-related circulation anomalies,i.e., the uplifted tropopause and the northward shifted westerly jet in the upper troposphere. Compared to the result based on RMM, the upper tropospheric westerly jet may play a less important role in generating the stratospheric column ozone anomalies based on OMI. Our study indicates that the circulation-based MJO index(RMM) can better characterize the MJOrelated anomalies in tropopause pressure and thus the MJO influence on atmospheric trace gases in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, especially over subtropical East Asia.     

On the transfer of stratospheric ozone into the troposphere near the north pole

A series of nearly daily ozone vertical profiles obtained at station T-3 on Fletcher's Ice Island (85°N, 90°W) during the period January-March 1971 shows several significant ozone intrusions into the troposphere. These intrusions are not only associated with enhanced ozone amounts in the stratosphere but also require tropopause folding events to transport ozone into the troposphere. These folds in the Arctic tropopause appear to be capable of contributing significantly to the ozone budget of the Arctic troposphere during the late winter and spring seasons. The importance of tropopause folding for bringing ozone into the troposphere seen in the daily ozone profiles confirms the results found in the Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program aircraft flights.     

Observation of a summer tropopause fold by ozonesonde at Changchun,China: Comparison with reanalysis and model simulation

Tropopause folds are one of the key mechanisms of stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) in extratropical regions, transporting ozone-rich stratospheric air into the middle and lower troposphere. Although there have been many studies of tropopause folds that have occurred over Europe and North America, a very limited amount of work has been carried out over northeastern Asia. Ozonesondes produced by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics were launched in Changchun (43.9°N, 125.2°E), Northeast China, in June 2013, and observed an ozone-enriched layer with thickness of 3 km and an ozone peak of 180 ppbv at 6 km in the troposphere. The circulation field from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim Reanalysis (ERA-Interim) dataset shows that this ozone peak was caused by a tropopause fold associated with a jet stream at the eastern flank of the East Asian trough. By analyzing the ozone data from the ozone monitoring instrument and Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) simulations, it was found that a high ozone concentration tongue originating from the lower stratosphere at high latitude (near central Siberia) intruded into the middle troposphere over Changchun between 5 and 8 km on 12 June 2013. The high-resolution WRF-Chem simulation was capable of describing events such as the tropopause fold that occurred on the cyclonic shear side of the jet stream. In addition, the TRAJ3D trajectory model was used to trace the origin of measured secondary ozone peaks in the middle troposphere back, for example, to stratospheric intrusion through the tropopause fold.     

Indo-Japanese lidar observations of the tropical middle atmosphere during 1998 and 1999

A state-of-the art Rayleigh and Mie backscattering lidar was set up at Gadanki (13.5N, 79.2E) in the Tropics in India. Using this system, regular observations of upper tropospheric clouds, aerosols at stratospheric heights and atmospheric temperatures in the range from 30 to 80 km were made. In this paper, the data collected during the period of 1998–99 were selected for systematic investigation and presentation. The Mie scattering lidar system is capable of measuring the degree of depolarization in the laser backscattering. Several tropical cirrus cloud structures have been identified with low to moderate ice content. Occasionally, thin sub-visible cirrus clouds in the vicinity of the tropical tropopause have also been detected. The aerosol measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere show low aerosol content with a vertical distribution up to 35 km altitude. Rayleigh-scattering lidar observations reveal that at the tropical site, temperature inversion occurs at mesospheric heights. Atmospheric waves have induced perturbations in the temperatures for several times at the upper stratospheric heights. A significant warming in the lower mesosphere associated with a consistent cooling in the upper stratospheric heights is observed particularly in the winter season during the events of sudden stratospheric warming (SSW).     

位温、等熵位涡与锋和对流层顶的分析方法

等熵位涡分析是位涡理论的分析基础。此文的目的是介绍等熵位涡分析所必需掌握的基本概念和方法。文中从位温和位涡、对流层和平流层、锋和对流层顶的基本性质出发,讨论了锋和对流层顶在剖面图、等压面图及等位温面（即等熵面）图上的特征。文中给出了各种分析实例图形,并通过分析和对比指出：平流层的高位涡是对流层顶以上位温随高度急剧增加位温垂直梯度特别大的结果;位温垂直梯度是决定位涡分布的主要因子;等熵位涡图主要反映极地气团的活动,同时也是与极地气团密切关联的锋、急流、对流层顶的综合反映。最后提出了等熵位涡分析中需要避免的一些错误认识,特别是不能将等位温面上的流线当成轨迹的错误,并由此得出平流层空气侵入对流层下部的错误推论。     

Analysis of the origins and implications of the18O content of stratospheric water vapor

Factors influencing the¹⁸O content of stratospheric H₂O are reviewed in order to provide a theoretical framework for the interpretation of measurements of this quantity, which are now becoming available. Depletions in¹⁸O of 5–10% in stratospheric H₂O are expected based on the known correlation between that of D and¹⁸O in tropospheric H₂O and observed measurements of large (typically 50%) depletions of D in stratospheric H₂O. H₂O formed in the stratosphere as a result of oxidation of CH₄ can be expected to reflect primarily the¹⁸O content of stratospheric O₂, which is the same as that of tropospheric O₂ (slightly enhanced with respect to standard mean ocean water). Thus, a reduction in the¹⁸O depletion is expected with increasing altitude, but not a large enhancement in¹⁸O in upper stratospheric H₂O as found in recent far infrared measurements. The observed large enhancement of¹⁸O in stratospheric O₃ is not expected to be reflected in stratospheric H₂O. Necessary laboratory data for the improved quantification of these effects are reviewed.     

Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotopic Signatures of Large Atmospheric Ice Conglomerations

Specific studies about the stable isotope composition (¹⁸O/¹⁶O and D/H) of atmospheric icy conglomerations are still scarce. The present work offers, for the first time, a very detailed analysis of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic signatures of unusually large ice conglomerations, or “megacryometeors”, that fell to the ground in Spain during January 2000. The hydrochemical analysis is based on the bulk isotopic composition and systematic selective sampling (deuterium isotopic mapping) of eleven selected specimens. δ¹⁸O and δD (V-SMOW) of all samples fall into the Meteoric Water Line matching well with typical tropospheric values. The distribution of the samples on Craig's line suggests either a variation in condensation temperature and/or different residual fractions of water vapour (Rayleigh processes). Three of the largest megacryometeors exhibited unequivocally distinctive negative values (δ¹⁸O = −17.2%₀ and δD = −127 %₀ V-SMOW), (δ¹⁸O = −15.6%₀ and δD = −112%₀ V-SMOW) and (δ¹⁸O = −14.4%₀ and δD = −100%₀ V-SMOW), suggesting an atmospheric origin typical of the upper troposphere. Theoretical calculations indicate that the vertical trajectory of growth was lower than 3.2 km. During the period in which the fall of megacryometeors occurred, anomalous atmospheric conditions were observed to exist: a substantial lowering of the tropopause with a deep layer of saturated air below, ozone depression and strong wind shear. Moreover, these large ice conglomerations occurred during non-thunderstorm conditions, suggesting an alternative process of ice growth was responsible for their formation.     

Simulation of the Effect of Water-vapor Increase on Temperature in the Stratosphere

To analyze the mechanism by which water vapor increase leads to cooling in the stratosphere, the effects of water-vapor increases on temperature in the stratosphere were simulated using the two-dimensional, interactive chemical dynamical radiative model (SOCRATES) of NCAR. The results indicate that increases in stratospheric water vapor lead to stratospheric cooling, with the extent of cooling increasing with height, and that cooling in the middle stratosphere is stronger in Arctic regions. Analysis of the radiation process showed that infrared radiative cooling by water vapor is a pivotal factor in middle-lower stratospheric cooling. However, in the upper stratosphere (above 45 km), infrared radiation is not a factor in cooling; there, cooling is caused by the decreased solar radiative heating rate resulting from ozone decrease due to increased stratospheric water vapor. Dynamical cooling is important in the middle-upper stratosphere, and dynamical feedback to temperature change is more distinct in the Northern Hemisphere middle-high latitudes than in other regions and signiffcantly affects temperature and ozone in winter over Arctic regions. Increasing stratospheric water vapor will strengthen ozone depletion through the chemical process. However, ozone will increase in the middle stratosphere. The change in ozone due to increasing water vapor has an important effect on the stratospheric temperature change.     

北半球准定常行星波气候平均态的资料分析和数值模拟

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和大气环流模式(CCSR/NIES AGCM Ver 5.6),对北半球准定常行星波的气候平均态分布进行分析和模拟.再分析资料分析的结果表明:北半球冬季,准定常行星波沿两支波导向上传播,其中一支在对流层上层转向中低纬度传播,另外一支折向高纬度,通过极地波导上传到平流层.其中,1波和2波可以上传到平流层,因而其振幅分布除在中低纬的对流层上层出现一个次大值外,在高纬度平流层中上层会出现一个最大值,3波则主要限制在对流层,其振幅分布除在副热带对流层上层出现一个次大值外,最大值出现在中纬度对流层上层.北半球夏季,整个平流层为东风环流,极地波导不存在,行星波不能上传到平流层,在对流层活动也较弱,1波、2波、3波的传播情况大致相似,表现为在对流层上层由中纬度向赤道地区的传播.相应的振幅分布是,对1波和2波而言,最大值出现在中低纬对流层顶附近,同时在中高纬对流层上层出现一个次大值,而3波的振幅分布正好相反,最大值出现在中高纬对流层上层,次大值则在中低纬对流层顶附近.利用大气环流模式进行的数值模拟表明,模式可以比较好地模拟冬夏季准定常行星波的传播路径,但模拟的北半球冬季沿极地波导向平流层的传播明显偏弱,其结果是对1波、2波而言,高纬度平流层中上层的振幅最大值明显小于再分析资料的数值.文中还讨论了数值模拟与资料分析中行星波的差异可能对大气环流模拟的影响.     

西南地区一次对流复合体调控下的对流层向平流层输送的特征及机制

利用WRF模式对2009年6月发生在西南地区的一次中尺度对流复合体(Me-soscale Convective Complex,MCC)天气过程进行了数值模拟,结合HYSPLIT拉格朗日轨迹分析,研究了此次强对流天气调控下的对流层向平流层输送(Troposphere-to-Strat-osphere transport...     

副热带东亚季风区一次穿透性对流过程影响下平流层成分变化的个例分析

穿透性对流是导致北半球夏季平流层低层南亚高压内水汽极值形成的重要机制之一,关于副热带东亚季风区穿透性对流是否对平流层低层水汽等物质分布存在影响目前尚不清楚。本文选取2016年的武汉暴雨事件,采用Cloudsat和Aura Microwave Limb Sounder（MLS）卫星数据,分析了东亚季风区的穿透性对流活动对上对流层/下平流层物质分布的影响。利用CloudSat卫星资料云分类产品和Aura MLS卫星数据联合分析武汉暴雨过程中捕捉到1次穿透性对流事件,该事件发生于2016年7月4日05时（协调世界时）的穿透性对流,中心位于海上梅雨带区域。分析表明,这次对流穿透事件对上对流层/下平流层物质分布有显著影响,穿透性对流活动影响到对流层顶以上的物质分布,具体表现是:首先,穿透性对流显著减少了局地对流层顶附近的臭氧含量,较之气候态对流层顶臭氧含量偏少32.53%;其次,穿透性对流能够增加局地对流层顶附近的水汽混合比含量,它通过更多的云冰粒子蒸发来增强局地平流层水汽含量,同时通过更强的垂直水汽输送来直接加湿平流层。此次穿透性对流事件对水汽变化影响较之对臭氧含量变化的影响更为显著,它使得对流层顶水汽混合比增加近乎一倍（98.15%）。因此,副热带东亚季风区的穿透性对流活动对于对流层向平流层的物质输送起着重要的作用。     

“05·6”华南持续性暴雨发生前上对流层及平流层异常信号分析

利用欧洲中心ERA-Interim再分析资料,对"05·6"华南持续性暴雨发生前上对流层及平流层信号进行分析。分析结果表明,暴雨发生前一周,暴雨区域上空对流层顶高度出现先降低后升高再降低的变化,这种变化与日本南部的位涡异常存在较好的对应关系,即我国中纬度沿海一带至日本的高位涡带向华南延伸,使得华南地区上空的位涡升高,对流层顶下降。在环流场中,本次暴雨发生前低纬地区上对流层下平流层（UTLS）区域的东风与1991~2010年平均值相比偏强偏北,华南地区上空平流层东风场也偏强,平流层低层东风在暴雨发生前第9天提早向下传播;位势高度场中,"05·6"华南暴雨发生前中低纬度100 hPa上的南亚高压中心位置偏东偏南;华南地区UTLS区域有较强的位势高度场正异常,在暴雨发生前随时间出现两次明显的加强,但在暴雨发生后减弱。南亚高压中心位置的偏移、东风信号的提早下传、高位涡空气入侵华南均有利于降水的发生。     

A 7-Year Lidar Temperature Climatology of the Mid-Latitude Upper Troposphere and Stratosphere

Abstract

The Purple Crow Lidar (PCL) is a large power-aperture product monostatic laser radar which until 2010 was located at the Delaware Observatory (42°52′N, 81°23′W, 225 m elevation above sea level) near the campus of the University of Western Ontario. It is capable of measuring temperature from 10 to 110 km altitude, as well as water vapour in the troposphere and stratosphere. We use upper tropospheric and stratospheric vibrational Raman N₂ backscatter-derived temperatures to form a climatology for the years 1999 to 2007 from 10 to 40 km attitude. The lidar temperatures are validated using nearby radiosonde measurements from Detroit and Buffalo. The measured temperatures show good agreement with the radiosonde soundings. An agreement of ±1 K is found during the summer months and ±2.5 K during the winter months, validating the calibration of the lidar to within the geophysical variability of the measurements. Comparison between the PCL measurements and the Committee on Space Research International Reference Atmosphere, 1986 (CIRA-86) and the Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter-90 (MSIS-90) models show the models are as much as 5 K warmer below 25 km and 2 to 4 K colder above 25 km during the summer months, in large part because the measured tropopause height is consistently lower than in the models.