Comparison of data and derived quantities for the middle atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere

Before data from satellites can be used with confidence in dynamical studies of the middle atmosphere an assessment of their reliability is necessary. To this end, independently analysed data from different instruments may be compared. In this paper, this is done for the Southern Hemisphere as a prelude to the dynamical studies of the middle atmosphere being fostered by the MASH project of the Middle Atmosphere Program. Data from two infrared radiometers are used: a limb scanner (LIMS) and a nadir sounder (SSU). While there is usually qualitative agreement between basic fields (temperatures, winds), substantial quantitative differences are found, with more pronounced differences in fields of Eliassen-Palm flux divergence and Ertel's potential vorticity.The fidelity of the base-level analysis to which satellite data are tied is important for calculating quantities of relevance to dynamical theory. In the Southern Hemisphere, conventional data are sparse and, through the analysis procedure, this introduces errors into derived fields for the middle atmosphere. The impact of using base-level analyses from different sources is assessed. Large discrepancies are found in fields computed by differentiation.Several techniques are suggested whereby the reliability of fields derived from satellite data may be gauged.     

Solar cycle changes to planetary wave propagation and their influence on the middle atmosphere circulation

Recent observations suggest that there may be a causal relationship between solar activity and the strength of the winter Northern Hemisphere circulation in the stratosphere. A three-dimensional model of the atmosphere between 10–140 km was developed to assess the influence of solar minimum and solar maximum conditions on the propagation of planetary waves and the subsequent changes to the circulation of the stratosphere. Ultraviolet heating in the middle atmosphere was kept constant in order to emphasise the importance of non-linear dynamical coupling. A realistic thermo-sphere was achieved by relaxing the upper layers to the MSIS-90 empirical temperature model. In the summer hemisphere, strong radiative damping prevents significant dynamical coupling from taking place. Within the dynamically controlled winter hemisphere, small perturbations are reinforced over long periods of time, resulting in systematic changes to the stratospheric circulation. The winter vortex was significantly weakened during solar maximum and western phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation, in accordance with reported 30 mb geopotential height and total ozone measurements.     

Global Dynamics of the MLT

The transition between the middle atmosphere and the thermosphere is known as the MLT region (for mesosphere and lower thermosphere). This area has some characteristics that set it apart from other regions of the atmosphere. Most notably, it is the altitude region with the lowest overall temperature and has the unique characteristic that the temperature is much lower in summer than in winter. The summer-to-winter-temperature gradient is the result of adiabatic cooling and warming associated with a vigorous circulation driven primarily by gravity waves. Tides and planetary waves also contribute to the circulation and to the large dynamical variability in the MLT. The past decade has seen much progress in describing and understanding the dynamics of the MLT and the interactions of dynamics with chemistry and radiation. This review describes recent observations and numerical modeling as they relate to understanding the dynamical processes that control the MLT and its variability. Results from the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), which is a comprehensive high-top general circulation model with interactive chemistry, are used to illustrate the dynamical processes. Selected observations from the Sounding the Atmosphere with Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument are shown for comparison. WACCM simulations of MLT dynamics have some differences with observations. These differences and other questions and discrepancies described in recent papers point to a number of ongoing uncertainties about the MLT dynamical system.     

Model studying the effect of the solar terminator on the thermospheric parameters

The results of model studying the mechanism of formation of large-scale disturbances in the thermosphere under the action of short-period waves propagating from the middle atmosphere are presented. The region of the solar terminator is considered as a source of such waves. The calculation results for the summer conditions in the Northern Hemisphere indicate that such an energy source, local in the space and time, results in the formation of large-scale inhomogeneities at altitudes of 120–160 km. A disturbance of these inhomogeneities is caused by the nonlinear and dissipative processes accompanying HF propagation in the terminator region. Large-scale disturbances have a quasistationary character and are localized near the morning and evening terminators. Vortex motions around the pole at altitudes of 140–160 km are formed at nigh latitudes of the winter hemisphere under the polar night conditions.     

Wavenumber frequency spectra of the meridional transport of sensible heat in the mid-troposphere of the Southern Hemisphere

Summary The wavenumber-frequency spectra of the meridional transport of sensible heat at 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, and 70°S, at 500 mb in the Southern Hemisphere, show a definite spectral domain for the transport at various latitudes, which is dominated by the wave motion of the meridional component of the velocity. In middle latitudes, the spectral band of the meridional flux of sensible heat is oriented from a region of low wavenumbers and low frequencies to a region of high wavenumbers and negative frequencies assigned for waves moving from west to east. In low latitudes, the spectral band is confined to a narrow band centered near the zero frequency. It is found that most of the meridional transport of sensible heat at 500 mb in the Southern Hemisphere is accomplished by waves of medium wavelengths moving from west to east in middle and high latitudes. The meridional flux of sensible heat at 500 mb in the summer of the Southern Hemisphere is about three times that in the summer of the Northern Hemisphere. However, the meridional flux of sensible heat at 500 mb is about the same in the winter of both hemispheres. In the Southern Hemisphere practically all the meridional flux of sensible heat is associated with the moving waves in all seasons, whereas in the Northern Hemisphere the stationary waves contribute about 40% of the transport in winter.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Observational evidence of the semiannual oscillation in the tropical middle atmosphere—A review

Observational studies on the semiannual oscillation in the tropical stratosphere and mesosphere are reviewed. Results of many statistics based on rocket and satellite observations reveal that the long-term behavior of the mean zonal wind exhibits two semiannual cycles which have their maximum amplitudes centered at the stratopause level and the mesopause level, each one being associated with the semiannual temperature variations predominating at levels about 10 km lower.Observational evidence obtained from recent studies of the dynamical properties of upper stratospheric waves strongly supports the theoretical consideration that the stratospheric semiannual oscillation is the manifestation of the wave-zonal flow interaction with alternating accelerations of the westerly flow by Kelvin waves and the easterly flow by planetary Rossby waves.Regarding the semiannual variation in the upper mesosphere, however, very little is known about the possible momentum source. Therefore, emphasis is placed on the need for further observations of the structure and behavior of the tropical middle atmosphere.     

Spectral characteristics of the meridional transport of angular momentum in the mid-troposhere of the Southern Hemisphere

Summary The wavenumber-frequency spectra of the meridional flux of angular momentum at 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60° and 70°S, at 500 mb, show a definite domain of wave interactions between the zonal and meridional components of the velocity at various latitudes. In middle latitudes, the spectral band of the meridional flux of angular momentum is oriented from a region of low wavenumbers and low frequencies to a region of high wavenumbers and negative frequencies assigned for waves moving from west to east. In low latitudes, however, the spectral domain is confined to a narrow band centered near the zero frquency.In contrast to the meridional flux of angular momentum in the Northern Hemisphere in which the intensity in winter is about twice that in Summer, in the Southern Hemisphere the meridional flux shows same intensity for all seasons.In the Southern Hemisphere, most of the meridional flux of angular momentum is directed toward the south pole and is accomplished by the eastward moving waves. In the Northern Hemisphere, however, most of the meridional flux is directed toward the north pole and is contributed by the stationary waves.The National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80302, (USA).     

中层耗散大气中Rossby波包的非线性相互作用理论

采用弱非线性近似得出中层耗散大气连续谱Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ波包的非线性时空演化方程，讨论了Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ波包的三波相互作用问题．数值计算表明，耗散和非线性的共同效应决定了Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ波包的演变．当一个Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ波包通过大气传播时，它的振幅若超过某个阈值，空间尺度分别比它大和比它小的两个次级Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ波包的振幅会随时间增长．特别当这两个次级波包同时随时空变化时，仅当主波的振幅超过一个更大的阈值，且其群速度介于两次级波包的群速度之间时，两次级波包的振幅才会随时空同时增长，即出现绝对不稳定现象，耗散和３个波包的频率失配都会增大不稳定的阈值．     

Nonzonal structure of the response of the global field of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature to solar activity

The work describes the results of calculations obtained with the Atmospheric Research Model (ARM) general circulation model. The temperature response of the troposphere and middle atmosphere to variations in UV solar radiation were found to have a large-scale wave structure when planetary waves at the lower model boundary were taken into account. In the present paper, the results from the processing of global temperature fields with three databases (ERA-20C, NOAA-CIRES 20th Century Reanalysis, v2, and NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis I) are provided. Analysis of the differences of the mean monthly temperature global fields (January and July) between the maxima and minima of three solar activity cycles (21, 22, and 23 cycles) also demonstrated their nonzonal structure. It was shown that the amplitude of this difference in January in the stratosphere (10 hPa) can be 7–29 K in the Northern Hemisphere. In July, this effect is prominent in Southern Hemisphere. In the troposphere (500 hPa), a nonzonal temperature effect is present in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; the amplitude of the effects amounts to approximately 5–12 K. In conclusion, we discuss that the mechanism of solar energy impact on atmospheric temperature discovered by numerical modeling is supported after reanalysis data processing.     

Variability of planetary waves as a signature of possible climatic changes

The long-term variability of stationary and traveling planetary waves in the lower stratosphere has been investigated using the data of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. The results obtained show that during the last decades winter-mean amplitude of the stationary planetary wave with zonal wave number 1 (SPW1) increases at the higher middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. It has been suggested that the observed increase in the SPW1 amplitude should be accompanied by the growth in the magnitude of the stratospheric vacillations. The analysis of the SPW1 behavior in the NCEP/NCAR data set supports this suggestion and shows a noticeable increase with time in the SPW1 intra-seasonal variability. The amplitudes of the long-period normal atmospheric modes, the so-called 5-, 10- and 16-day waves, diminish. It is supposed that one of the possible reasons for this decrease can be a growth of radiative damping rate caused, for instance, by the increase of CO₂. To investigate a possible climatic change of the middle atmosphere dynamics caused by observed changes in the tropospheric temperature, two sets of runs (using zonally averaged temperature distributions in the troposphere typical for January 1960 and 2000) with the middle and upper atmosphere model (MUAM) have been performed. The results obtained show that on average the calculated amplitude of the SPW1 in the stratosphere increased in 2000 and there is also an increase of its intra-seasonal variability conditioned by nonlinear interaction with the mean flow. This increase in the amplitudes of stratospheric vacillations during the last four decades allows us to suggest that stratospheric dynamics becomes more stochastic.     

The role of dynamics in total ozone deviations from their long-term mean over the Northern Hemisphere

Total ozone anomalies (deviation from the long-term mean) are created by anomalous circulation patterns. The dynamically produced ozone anomalies can be estimated from known circulation parameters in the layer between the tropopause and the middle stratosphere by means of statistics. Satellite observations of ozone anomalies can be compared with those expected from dynamics. Residual negative anomalies may be due to chemical ozone destruction. The statistics are derived from a 14 year data set of TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer January 1979-Dec. 1992) and corresponding 300 hPa geopotential (for the tropopause height) together with 30 hPa temperature (for stratospheric waves) at 60°N. The correlation coefficient for the linear multiple regression between total ozone (dependent variable) and the dynamical parameters (independent variables) is 0.88 for the zonal deviations in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere. Zonal means are also significantly dependent on circulation parameters, besides showing the known negative trend function of total ozone observed by TOMS. The significant linear trend for 60°N is 3 DU/year in the winter months taking into account the dependence on the dynamics between the tropopause region and the mid-stratosphere. The highest correlation coefficient for the monthly mean total ozone anomalies is reached in November with 0.94.     

The effect of Newtonian cooling on vertically propagating magneto-acoustic waves in a thermally conducting isothermal atmosphere (II)

In this article, we examine reflection, dissipation and attenuation of vertically propagating waves in an isothermal atmosphere under the combined effect of Newtonian cooling, thermal conduction and viscosity with a weak horizontal magnetic field. We consider the case in which the combined effect of viscosity and magnetic field is dominated by that of the thermal conduction and for small values of the Newtonian parameter. As a result, the atmosphere can be divided into three distinct regions that are connected by two transition regions. The lower and middle regions are connected by a semi-transparent barrier and the middle and upper regions are connected by an absorbing and reflecting barrier. In the connecting barriers the reflection and transmission of the waves takes place. The presence of Newtonian cooling effects on the adiabatic region, produces attenuation in the amplitudes of the waves and reduces the energy absorption in the transition regions. The reflection coefficient is determined in the lower and middle regions and the results are discussed in the context of the heating of the solar atmosphere.     

Monthly mean winds in the mesosphere at 44S and 78S

A medium frequency partial-reflection spaced-antenna wind radar was installed at Scott Base (78S) on Ross Island, Antarctica, in November 1982. Results from this radar for the period December 1982 to October 1984 inclusive are compared with simultaneous measurements made with a similar radar at Christchurch (44S), N. Z. Monthly mean zonal winds measured at 80 km are compared with recent models for the Southern Hemisphere middle atmosphere. There is a general agreement with the models but there is evidence that the Christchurch winter flow was atypical in 1983.     

Mid-latitude summer response of the middle atmosphere to short-term solar UV changes

Temperature and wind data obtained with Rayleigh lidar since 1979 and Russian rockets since 1964 are analyzed to deduce the summer response of the middle atmosphere to short-term solar UV changes. The equivalent width of the 1083 nm He I line is used as a proxy to monitor the short-term UV flux changes. Spectral analyses are performed on 108-day windows to extract the 27-day component from temperature, wind and solar data sets. Linear regressions between these spectral harmonics show some significant correlations around 45 km at mid-latitudes. For large 27-day solar cycles, amplitudes of 2 K and 6 m s⁻¹ are calculated for temperature data series over the south of France (44°N), and on wind data series over Volgograd (49°N), respectively. Cross-spectrum analyses have indicated correlations between these atmospheric parameters and the solar proxy with a phase lag of less than 2 days. These statistically correlative results, which provide good qualitative agreement with numerical simulations, are both obtained at mid-latitude. However, the observed amplitudes are larger than expected, with numerical models suggesting that dynamical processes such as equatorial or gravity waves may be responsible.     

Propagation of Stationary Planetary Waves in the Upper Atmosphere under Different Solar Activity

Numerical modeling of changes in the zonal circulation and amplitudes of stationary planetary waves are performed with an accounting for the impact of solar activity variations on the thermosphere. A thermospheric version of the Middle/Upper Atmosphere Model (MUAM) is used to calculate the circulation in the middle and upper atmosphere at altitudes up to 300 km from the Earth’s surface. Different values of the solar radio emission flux in the thermosphere are specified at a wavelength of 10.7 cm to take into account the solar activity variations. The ionospheric conductivities and their variations in latitude, longitude, and time are taken into account. The calculations are done for the January–February period and the conditions of low, medium, and high solar activity. It was shown that, during high-activity periods, the zonal wind velocities increases at altitudes exceeding 150 km and decreases in the lower layers. The amplitudes of planetary waves at high solar activity with respect to the altitude above 120 km or below 100 km, respectively, are smaller or larger than those at low activity. These differences correspond to the calculated changes in the refractive index of the atmosphere for stationary planetary waves and the Eliassen–Palm flux. Changes in the conditions for the propagation and reflection of stationary planetary waves in the thermosphere may influence the variations in their amplitudes and the atmospheric circulation, including the lower altitudes of the middle atmosphere.     

Dynamical coupling of the lower and middle atmosphere historical background to current research

The role of both gravity waves and planetary wave in coupling the circulation in the middle atmosphere with that in the troposphere is now well appreciated. The present article reveiws the history of the study of middle atmospheric dynamics and ets coupling with the lower atmosphere. The emphasis is on early developments, principally those before the 1970's     

Structure and dynamics of the stratosphere and mesosphere revealed by VHF radar investigations

Powerful VHF radars are capable of almost continuously monitoring the threedimensional velocity vector and the distribution of turbulence in the middle atmosphere, i.e. the stratosphere and mesosphere. Methods of radar investigations of the middle atmosphere are outlined and the basic parameters, mean and fluctuating velocities as well as reflectivity and persistency of atmospheric structures, are defined. Results of radar investigations are described which show that the tropopause level as well as a criterion on the stability of the lower stratosphere can be deduced. Besides mean wind velocities, VHF radars can measure instantaneous velocities due to acoustic gravity waves. The interaction of gravity waves with the background wind is discussed, and it is shown that cumulus convection is an effective source of gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. The vertical microstructure of the stratosphere, manifesting itself in thin stratified sheets in which temperature steps occur, is investigated by applying knowledge from investigations of the oceanic thermocline. Possible origins, like shear generation and lateral convection of the microstructure of the stratosphere, are discussed. Observations of gravity waves in the mesosphere are reviewed and their connection with turbulence structures is pointed out. Finally, some open questions which could be answered by further VHF radar investigations are summarized.     

Modeling of nonmigrating tides in the middle atmosphere

On the basis of calculations using the general circulation model of the middle and upper atmosphere, the relative role of sources of nonmigrating tides distributed in atmosphere has been investigated. It is shown that in winter, when planetary waves in stratosphere are well developed, the main contribution to the generation of nonmigrating tides is caused by nonlinear interaction between migrating tides and a quasi-stationary planetary wave with zonal wave number 1 (SPW1). Taking into account the longitudinal ozone inhomogeneities in the model leads to the occurrence of additional sources of nonmigrating tides caused by longitudinally inhomogeneous heating of the atmosphere, the contribution of which can be comparable to that from nonlinear interaction under an attenuating amplitude of SPW1 in the stratosphere.     

Spectral analysis of planetary waves seen in ionospheric total electron content (TEC): First results using GPS differential TEC and stratospheric reanalyses

The coupling of the neutral atmosphere and the ionosphere through planetary waves (PW) (zonal wavenumber 0–5) is investigated by spherical harmonic analyses of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). These analyses detect mean variations, standing and travelling waves which are assumed to be signatures of PW. Database used for TEC analyses are 3 years of hourly TEC maps covering the higher middle and polar latitudes. They are regularly produced by DLR Neustrelitz. The obtained results are compared with PW analyses using NCEP/NCAR and Met Office stratospheric reanalyses. Case studies show that signatures of PW occur simultaneously in the middle atmosphere and ionosphere.