Ozone and temperature change in the winter stratosphere

Summary In an experiment to study the correlation between temperature and ozone in the disturbed winter atmosphere, two rocket-borne ozonesondes were flown during a time in which the temperature structure, in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere changed at certain altitudes from the previous day. The resulting ozone and temperature distribution, as compared to distribution on the control day at the end of the winter season, showed variations during the time the atmosphere was disturbed. These variations may be explained by considering the temperature-dependence of reaction rates for an oxygen atmosphere.     

Ozone variation in the lower stratosphere and its mechanism

Seasonal variations of ozone are studied by taking into consideration both photochemical and dynamical processes. Assuming that the seasonal variations of total ozone amounts are linear combinations of photochemical equilibrium variations and those due to atmospheric motions, the observed variations of the total ozone amount seem reasonably to be explained.The concept mentioned above implies that the time scale of ozone might be rather short in the lower stratosphere. The order of the half restoration time was estimated to be 10 to 10² days in the lower stratosphere. Thus the estimated time scale of ozone must be somewhat longer than that of the temperature in the lower stratosphere, of which variation usually shows its maximum in the midwinter in middle latitudes, while that of ozone shows its maximum in the late winter or early spring. As the maximum values of both quantities would appear in the early summer without air motions, the similarity in the phase differences of temperature and ozone suggests the validity of the concept of this paper.     

Rayleigh lidar temperature measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

A single-wavelength Rayleigh lidar system has been used to measure the temperatures in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in the night in the altitude range from about 8 to $\text{30}\text{km}$. The temperature derivation is based on an inversion algorithm of the pure Rayleigh backscatter. Calculations include the derivation of the air molecular concentration by an iterative method and the backscattered signals corrected by the background aerosol, which is now found to be low and stable. The uncertainties in estimating the temperature using this method are discussed in detail.The temperature profiles and the tropopause characteristics derived by using the lidar measurements are compared with the radiosonde data. Good agreement is found between these two measurements revealing the potential of this method. The comparison with radiosonde data shows that the lidar measured tropopause temperature is lower by $\text{0.8±1.5}\text{K}$ and the tropopause height is higher by $\text{0.45±0.8}\text{km}$ than the radiosonde measurements. The climatology of local tropopause (24.57°N,121.13°E) is briefly discussed in terms of a double tropopause formation and seasonal variations of the tropopause height and temperature.     

A note on some early radiosonde temperature observations in the Antarctic lower stratosphere

The behaviour of the Southern Hemisphere stratosphere has attracted considerable interest, and been compared with the Northern Hemisphere, since the International Geophysical Year (1957–58) when the sudden (explosive or accelerated) springtime warming phenomenon in the Antarctic was first observed. Over the years studies of upper air temperature and wind observations have been made, principally through the spring months when the polar vortex breakdown occurs, utilising both ground-based (rawinsonde, rocket) and more recently, satellite-derived data. Although the radiosonde-derived temperature data are limited both by the number of reporting stations, and the practical difficulty of securing observations much above the 100 hPa level, useful records exist from 1956 or 1957. These have shown that in the 1959 southern spring, the lower stratosphere was relatively colder, and the warming rate through the season was essentially more regular, with little evidence of the marked but short-lived temperature fluctuations usually found. Similar, but not quite such wide-spread conditions occurred again in the 1961 spring. In another study, 30 hPa temperature fields over the Antarctic continent, which could be drawn for the 1967 spring, showed the complexity of the polar vortex breakdown. These features are recalled because extension of the 100 hPa springtime temperature series for the Australian Antarctic station at Casey (66.3°S, 110.5°E) shows that in 1985 and part of 1986, the temperature behaviour there was similar to, but not quite so extreme as that which occurred at Mirny (66.5°S, 93.0°E) in 1959.     

The effect of the 11-year solar cycle on the temperature in the lower stratosphere

Two temperature datasets are analyzed for quantifying the 11-year solar cycle effect in the lower stratosphere. The analysis is based on a regression linear model that takes into account volcanic, Arctic Oscillation (AO), Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects. Under solar maximum conditions, temperatures are generally warmer for low- and mid-latitudes than under solar minimum, with the effect being the strongest in northern summer. At high latitudes, the vortex is generally stronger under solar maximum conditions, with the exception of February and to a lesser extent March in the Northern Hemisphere; associated with this positive signal at high latitudes, there is a significant negative signal at the equator. Observations also suggest that contrary to the beginning of the winter, in February–March, the residual circulation in the Northern Hemisphere is enhanced. A better understanding of the mechanisms at work comes from further investigations using the ERA-40 reanalysis dataset. First, a consistent response in terms of temperature and wind is obtained. Moreover, considering Eliassen-Palm (EP) flux divergence and residual circulation stream functions, we found an increased circulation in the Northern Hemisphere in February during solar maxima, which results in more adiabatic warming at high latitudes and more adiabatic cooling at low latitudes, thus demonstrating the dynamical origin of the response of the low stratosphere to the solar cycle.     

A statistical study of pressure changes in the troposphere and lower stratosphere after strong solar flares

Summary The average change in height of several constant pressure levels in the troposphere and lower stratosphere after a strong solar flare is described. The analysis covers the northern hemisphere north of 10°N and is based on a sample of 81 carefully selected flares from the period July 1957 through December 1959.The statistical significance of the results is tested by drawing a comparison with the results obtained when one applies exactly the same analysis to three samples of 81 random key-dates selected from the same period.Properties of the reaction pattern are (1) it is pronounced at high as well as low latitudes, (2) it consists of alternating cells of positive and negative height change, (3) it is established within six hours after the flare, and (4) the maximum response occurs near the tropopause.It appears more likely that the atmospheric reaction pattern can be attributed to very energetic solar particles rather than to enhanced ultraviolet radiation.     

Horizontal eddy diffusivities in the northern hemispheric stratosphere and lower mesosphere

Meterological rocket soundings, launched between 1969–74 at six locations representative of low, middle, and high altitudes, are employed with the use of the statistical theory of diffusion, to determine the zonal and meridional component of eddy diffusivity between 30 and 55 km as a function of season, latitude, and altitude. A comparison is also made between annually-averaged eddy diffusivities above and below 30 km.It is shown that the zonal component of eddy diffusivity is approximately three to five times as large as the meridional component, in most cases. Both components of eddy diffusivity vary greatly with season, latitude, and altitude. Highest eddy diffusivities, found in the vicinity of the winter westerly jet, are approximately one order of magnitude higher than those present during the summer. Tropical eddy diffusivities, however, remain relatively small throughout the year. Annually, a minimum is indicated near 25 km between maximums located at the stratopause and tropopause.     

The production and distribution of nitrogen oxides in the lower stratosphere

Pure and Applied Geophysics -     

Vertical distribution of chlorofluoromethanes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Vertical profiles of CCl₄, CFCl₃, and CF₂Cl₂ mixing ratios in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere have been measured on four flights with chartered aircraft, type HS 125. The flights were carried out in November and December 1976 over Europe at latitudes between 50 and 60°N. At least eight air samples were taken during each ascent and descent of the aircraft at altitudes between 7 and 12.5 km. The samples were analysed in the laboratory using gaschromatographic procedures. The results indicate a decrease of the CCl₄, CFCl₃, and CF₂Cl₂ mixing ratios above the tropopause. The observed average gradients in the stratosphere are 14 pptv/km for CCl₄, 12 pptv/km for CFCl₃ and 27.8 pptv/km for CF₂Cl₂. With exception of CFCl₃ these gradients are higher than those predicted by model calculations. Apparently, further sink mechanisms for CCl₄ and CF₂Cl₂ exist in the lower stratosphere not yet included in the models.     

Possible correlation between ozone and aitken nuclei counts in the lower stratosphere

A study is presented of a possible correlation between ozone and Aitken nuclei concentration measured between 6 km and 19 km by the instruments installed on the WB-57F aircraft. Samples were taken between 48°N and 9°S latitudes over the U.S., the Gulf of Mexico, and Central and South America between March 1974 and February 1975.A weak negative correlation between AN and ozone concentrations was found at altitudes higher than the tropical tropopause. Scattering of the signs and magnitudes of correlation coefficients was found below the tropopause. Largest variations of the coefficient values were related to the stratospheric pollution following the eruption of the Guatemalan volcano Fuego.     

ECMWF和HALOE平流层温度资料对比

利用ECMWF和HALOE资料,分析了1991~2002年两种资料中温度垂直廓线、平方差水平分布,并通过线性趋势分析方法分析了平流层不同高度温度变化趋势的差异.研究结果表明：在中低纬度地区,10 hPa以下两种资料中温度垂直廓线非常吻合;10~2 hPa高度,HALOE资料中温度比ECMWF资料中温度要高;1 hPa高度上,两种资料也有比较小的差异.在南北半球的中高纬度地区,温度的差异比较明显,整个平流层中,HALOE资料中温度比ECMWF资料中温度要高.平流层中温度的水平分布差异随着高度而增大.中低纬度地区温度差异相对较小,南北半球50°以上地区差异比较大.在平流层的中低层100 hPa、50 hPa和10 hPa高度,两种资料中温度的变化趋势一致,但是HALOE资料中温度的递减趋势要更明显.在平流层高层2 hPa,1996年后两种资料中温度的变化趋势相反.本研究将为平流层温度研究的资料选择提供一定的依据.     

Vertical and off-diagonal eddy diffusivities in the Northern Hemispheric stratosphere and lower mesosphere

Meteorological rocket soundings, launched between 1968–74 at six locations representative of low, middle, and high latitudes in the northern hemisphere, are employed to determine the vertical, meridional and off-diagonal components of the eddy diffusivity in the northern hemispheric statosphere and lower mesosphere.It is shown that the distribution of the vertical and meridional components of the eddy diffusivity are similar in the northern hemisphere, although the magnitude of the former is 10⁷ smaller than that of the latter; the magnitude of the off-diagonal eddy diffusivity is about 10³ smaller than that of the meridional eddy diffusivity. In the troposphere, a maximum eddy diffusivity occurs in the mid-latitude at about 7 km above the mean sea level for both the summer and winter seasons. In the stratosphere, a maximum eddy diffusivity occurs in the mid-latitude at about 33 km in the winter, but no maximum in the summer.Paper presented at the World Meterological Organization Technical Conference on Global Observations of Atmospheric Pollution Relative to Climate, Boulder, Colorado, 20–24 August 1979.     

新疆库尔勒地区秋季下平流层重力波特性

利用2011年秋季无线电探空数据,采用矢端曲线法首次分析了新疆库尔勒地区下平流层重力波特征参量,得到36组准单色重力波的结果.结果统计显示：库尔勒秋季下平流层重力波垂直波长、水平波长平均值分别为2.8 km和580 km,固有频率平均值为1.74f.垂直传播方向以上传为主,约占78%,其中下传重力波水平波长较短,固有频率较高.水平传播方向以西北和东南为主,各占1/3,其中上传（下传）重力波水平传播方向以西北（东南）居多,这与热带低纬站点和其他中纬站点观测结果不同.与其他站点比较,库尔勒地区最小,中高纬地区水平波长、垂直波长随纬度增加大致有减小的趋势,库尔勒地区偏离这一趋势,波长偏大.     

A simple numerical experiment concerning the general circulation in the lower stratosphere

Summary By means of highly truncated spherical harmonic expansions, an extended four-level quasi-geostrophic model with variable Coriolis parameter is transformed into a set of ordinary non-linear differential equations. Non-adiabatic effects, frictional dissipation, and boundary effects are approximately included in the equations. A numerical experiment made with the equations succeeds in producing many realistic statistical gross features, especially in the lower stratosphere, e. g., a poleward temperature incrase, the up-gradient horizontal transports of heat and momentum due to large-scale eddies, the upward energy flux of extra-long waves, and the trapping of the upward energy flux of tropospheric unstable waves near the tropopause. The mean energy flow in the lower stratosphere and in the troposphere are analyzed and compared with each other, indicating very clearly the baroclinical activness of the troposphere and the passiveness of the lower stratosphere. The dynamics in the lower stratosphere are discussed. the mean meridional circulation is also studied.     

Aerosol concentrations and size distribution in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Thumba

Rocket-borne ultraviolet photometers operating at =0.31 m have been used at Thumba (8°33N, 76°52E) to make measurements of atmospheric scattering at tropospheric and lower stratospheric altitudes. Measurements could be made of the amplitude of the scattered fluxes and the angular distribution up to an altitude of about 24 km on three rocket flights conducted as part of the 16 February 1980 solar eclipse campaign. These measurements have been used to study the size distribution as well as the number densities of aerosols in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Thumba.     

Statistics of gravity wave spectra in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Beijing

We utilize the temperature profiles with a height resolution of 50-m obtained over the Beijing Observatory in the period between January of 2002 and December of 2002 to study vertical wavenumber spectra of normalized temperature fluctuations in the 1.67-8.02 km and 13.57-19.92 km altitude ranges and compare them with linear saturation model.Results indicate that individual vertical wavenumber spectra reveal a considerable variability in both slope and amplitude.The observed variability is not consistent wit...     

A note on the Aitken nuclei and ion flow measurements in the lower stratosphere

In the light of new measurements of small aerosol particles in the lower stratosphere, some of the old investigations—which were only published in part in scientific journals—are reviewed and compared. The discussion focuses on whether the Aitken nuclei (AN) size distribution up to 20 km can be described by Junge’s or log-normal density functions and under what circumstances one can find a bimodal distribution of these particles. The ion flow in correlated to the stratospheric pollution (intercept with the jet aircraft, volcanic activity) and is, in mean, directly proportional to the aircraft altitude in the undisturbed lower stratosphere. Note: The GCCPR, Univ. Missouri at Rolla, reports quoted in the article can be obtained from the author.     

Observations of gravity waves in the upper and lower stratosphere by lidar and ozonesondes

Lidar observations of Rayleigh backscatter and temperature profiles measured by ozonesondes have been used to investigate gravity waves in the upper and lower stratosphere, respectively, over Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.1°W). Both data sets have been used to investigate the vertical wavenumber spectrum of the wave field at high wavenumbers. Similar analytic techniques applied to each data set enable direct comparison of the spectra. The possibility of laminar structures generated by differential advection contaminating gravity-wave fields deduced from temperature and/or density measurement is discussed and the behaviour of the wave-field mean potential energy reveals a seasonal cycle throughout the stratosphere with a late winter maximum and a summer minimum.     

Solar response in the vertical structure of ozone and temperature in the tropical stratosphere

The aim of the present paper is to study the solar response in the vertical structure of ozone and temperature over the Indian tropical region and a search for any mutual relationship between their solar coefficients on a decadal scale in the lower stratosphere. For the purpose, the data obtained by ozonesonde and Umkehr methods for the lower stratospheric ozone and that of the total ozone amount from Dobson spectrophotometer during the period 1979–2001 have been analyzed. These data are analyzed using the multi-functional regression model, which takes into account most of the known natural and anthropogenic signals. The NCEP- and MSU-satellite data for the temperature over this region have been used. Results indicate an in-phase correlation of around 0.5 between ozone and solar flux (F10.7) in the vertical structure over the equatorial station, Trivandrum (8.3°N) but no significant correlation over Pune (18.3°N). The solar components of ozone and temperature indicate an in-phase but poor correlation in the lower stratospheric altitudes over both stations. However, when total ozone content data is analyzed, it indicates a very high correlation (⩾0.9) between the solar components of ozone and temperature. The solar trend in the vertical distribution of ozone is found to be of the order of 5–25% per 100 units of F10.7 solar flux for Trivandrum but it is relatively smaller (1.6–15.2%) over Pune. The solar dependence of temperature is found to be quite significant for the entire Indian tropical region with not much latitudinal variation.     

Wave-turbulence interactions observed in the lower stratosphere by the PROUST UHF radar and GPS radiosoundings

During a coordinated campaign devoted to wave-turbulence interactions, measurements with the high vertical resolution PROUST radar and radiosounding have been performed in an upper level potential vorticity anomaly. This campaign took place during September 1996 at St Santin, France, (44° 39′N, 2° 12′E), where the radar is located. Radiosonde data reveal, along the eastern part of the nomaly, the presence of a saturated wave field, while the radar observes turbulent activity in regions of wave-induced windshears. Characteristic parameters of the a saturation mechanism determined by the radar and radiosondes are in generally good agreement with the saturation onset conditions provided by linear saturation theory. The predicted relationship between vertical wavelength, period and energy dissipation rate proposed by the saturated-cascade theory is also assessed, although the proportionality factor is smaller than foreseen. When approaching the jetstream region, modulation by the wave field of the background windshear gives rise to Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities whose convective billows are observed by the radar.