An interim reference model for the variability of the middle atmosphere water vapor distribution

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 51-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.E. Remsberg ◽  
J.M. Russell ◽  
C.-Y. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Vapor Distribution

Proposed reference model for middle atmosphere water vapor

1996 ◽  
Vol 18 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 59-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.W. Chiou ◽  
E.E. Remsberg ◽  
C.D. Rodgers ◽  
R. Munro ◽  
R.M. Bevilacqua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Reference Model

scholarly journals Transport of mesospheric H<sub>2</sub>O during and after the stratospheric sudden warming of January 2010: observation and simulation

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 32811-32846
Author(s):  
C. Straub ◽  
B. Tschanz ◽  
K. Hocke ◽  
N. Kämpfer ◽  
A. K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Backward Trajectory ◽  
Stratospheric Sudden Warming ◽  
Vapor Distribution

Abstract. The transportable ground based microwave radiometer MIAWARA-C monitored the upper stratospheric and lower mesospheric (USLM) water vapor distribution over Sodankylä, Finland (67.4° N, 26.6° N) from January to June 2010. At the end of January, approximately 2 weeks after MIAWARA-C's start of operation in Finland, a stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) disturbed the circulation of the middle atmosphere. Shortly after the onset of the SSW water vapor in the USLM rapidly increased from approximately 5.5 to 7 ppmv in the end of January. Backward trajectory calculations show that this strong increase is due to the break down of the polar vortex and meridional advection of subtropical air to the arctic USLM region. In addition, mesospheric upwelling in the course of the SSW led to an increase in observed water vapor between 0.1 and 0.03 hPa. After the SSW MIAWARA-C observed a decrease in mesospheric water vapor volume mixing ratio (VMR) due to the subsidence of H2O poor air masses in the polar region. Backward trajectory analysis and the zonal mean water vapor distribution from the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite (Aura/MLS) indicate the occurrence of two regimes of circulation from 50° N to the north pole: 1) regime of enhanced meridional mixing throughout February and 2) regime of an eastward circulation in the USLM region reestablished between early March and equinox. The polar descent rate determined from MIAWARA-C's 5.2 ppmv isopleth is 350 m d−1 in the pressure range 0.6 to 0.06 hPa between mid February and early March. For the same time interval the descent rate was determined using trajectories calculated from the Transformed Eulerian Mean (TEM) wind fields simulated by means of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). The values found using these different methods are in good agreement.

scholarly journals Microwave remote sensing of water vapor in the atmosphere

2003 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
N. Kämpfer ◽  
B. Deuber ◽  
D. Feist ◽  
D. Gerber ◽  
C. Mätzler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Microwave Remote Sensing ◽  
Applied Physics ◽  
First Results ◽  
Dimensional Distribution ◽  
Microwave Radiometers ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods ◽  
Vapor Distribution

Abstract. Water vapor in the atmosphere plays a crucial role in climate and in atmospheric processes. Due to its long chemical lifetime it can be used as a tracer for investigations of dynamical processes in the middle atmosphere. Microwave radiometry is one of the few remote sensing methods which is capable of inferring Information on the water vapor content of the troposphere to the mesosphere, however with a different altitude resolution. Different microwave radiometers that can be operated from the ground and from an airborne platform have been built at the Institute of Applied Physics, University of Berne. The paper presents the method of microwave remote sensing and gives an overview of recently achieved results with regard to water vapor distribution as a function of altitude and Iatitude. First results of an imaging radiometer for the two dimensional distribution of liquid water is presented.

scholarly journals Transport of mesospheric H2O during and after the stratospheric sudden warming of January 2010: observation and simulation

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5413-5427 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Straub ◽  
B. Tschanz ◽  
K. Hocke ◽  
N. Kämpfer ◽  
A. K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Pressure Range ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Backward Trajectory ◽  
Stratospheric Sudden Warming ◽  
Vapor Distribution

Abstract. The transportable ground based microwave radiometer MIAWARA-C monitored the upper stratospheric and lower mesospheric (USLM) water vapor distribution over Sodankylä, Finland (67.4° N, 26.6° E) from January to June 2010. At the end of January, approximately 2 weeks after MIAWARA-C's start of operation in Finland, a stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) disturbed the circulation of the middle atmosphere. Shortly after the onset of the SSW water vapor rapidly increased at pressures between 1 and 0.01 hPa. Backward trajectory calculations show that this strong increase is due to the breakdown of the polar vortex and meridional advection of subtropical air to the Arctic USLM region. In addition, mesospheric upwelling in the course of the SSW led to an increase in observed water vapor between 0.1 and 0.03 hPa. After the SSW MIAWARA-C observed a decrease in mesospheric water vapor volume mixing ratio (VMR) due to the subsidence of H2O poor air masses in the polar region. Backward trajectory analysis and the zonal mean water vapor distribution from the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite (Aura/MLS) indicate the occurrence of two regimes of circulation from 50° N to the North Pole: (1) regime of enhanced meridional mixing throughout February and (2) regime of an eastward circulation in the USLM region reestablished between early March and the equinox. The polar descent rate determined from MIAWARA-C's 5.2 parts per million volume (ppmv) isopleth is 350 &amp;pm; 40 m d−1 in the pressure range 0.6 to 0.06 hPa between early February and early March. For the same time interval the descent rate in the same pressure range was determined using Transformed Eulerian Mean (TEM) wind fields simulated by means of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with Specified Dynamics (SD-WACCM). The average value of the SD-WACCM TEM vertical wind is 325 m d−1 while the along trajectory vertical displacement is 335 m d−1. The similar descent rates found indicate good agreement between the model and MIAWARA-C's measurements.

The Seoul Water Vapor Radiometer for the Middle Atmosphere: Calibration, Retrieval, and Validation

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1052-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn De Wachter ◽  
Alexander Haefele ◽  
Niklaus Kampfer ◽  
Soohyun Ka ◽  
Jung Eun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Water Vapor Radiometer

Trends in noctilucent clouds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz-Josef Lübken ◽  
Gerd Baumgarten
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Particle Model ◽  
Noctilucent Clouds ◽  
Middle Latitudes ◽  
Ice Particles ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Ice Water

&lt;p&gt;Noctilucent clouds are often cited as potential indicators of climate change in the middle&lt;br&gt;atmosphere. They owe their existence to the very cold summer mesopause region (~130K) at mid&lt;br&gt;and high latitudes. We analyze trends derived from the Leibniz-Institute Middle Atmosphere&lt;br&gt;Model (LIMA) and the MIMAS ice particle model (Mesospheric Ice Microphysics And tranSport model)&lt;br&gt;for the years 1871-2008 and for middle, high and arctic latitudes, respectively.&lt;br&gt;Model runs with and without an increase of carbon dioxide and water vapor (from methane oxidation)&lt;br&gt;concentration are performed. Trends are most prominent after ~1960 when the increase of both&lt;br&gt;carbon dioxide and water vapor accelerates. Negative trends of (geometric) NLC altitudes are primarily&lt;br&gt;due to cooling below NLC altitudes caused by carbon dioxide increase. Increases of ice particle&lt;br&gt;radii and NLC brightness with time are mainly caused by an enhancement of water vapor.&lt;br&gt;Several ice layer and background parameter trends are similar at high and arctic latitudes but are&lt;br&gt;substantially different at middle latitudes. This concerns, for example, occurrence rates, ice water&lt;br&gt;content (IWC), and number of ice particles in a column. Considering the time period after 1960,&lt;br&gt;geometric altitudes of NLC decrease by approximately 260m per decade, and brightness increases by&lt;br&gt;roughly 50% (1960-2008), independent of latitude. NLC altitudes decrease by approximately 15-20m&lt;br&gt;per increase of carbon dioxide by 1ppmv. The number of ice particles in a column and also at the&lt;br&gt;altitude of maximum backscatter is nearly constant with time. At all latitudes, yearly mean NLC&lt;br&gt;appear at altitudes where temperatures are close to 145+/-1K. Ice particles are present nearly&lt;br&gt;all the time at high and arctic latitudes, but are much less common at middle latitudes. Ice water&lt;br&gt;content and maximum backscatter are highly correlated, where the slope depends on latitude. This&lt;br&gt;allows to combine data sets from satellites and lidars. Furthermore, IWC and the concentration of&lt;br&gt;water vapor at the altitude of maximum backscatter are also strongly correlated. Results from&lt;br&gt;LIMA/MIMAS agree nicely with observations.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Mountain waves modulate the water vapor distribution in the UTLS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romy Heller ◽  
Christiane Voigt ◽  
Stuart Beaton ◽  
Andreas Dörnbrack ◽  
Stefan Kaufmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Vertical Transport ◽  
Vapor Transport ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Mountain Wave ◽  
Mountain Waves ◽  
Wave Event ◽  
Transport And Mixing ◽  
Vapor Distribution

Abstract. The water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region (UTLS) has a strong impact on the atmospheric radiation budget. Transport and mixing processes on different scales mainly determine the water vapor concentration in the UTLS. Here, we investigate the effect of mountain waves on the vertical transport and mixing of water vapor. For this purpose we analyse measurements of water vapor and meteorological parameters recorded by the DLR Falcon and NSF/NCAR GV research aircraft taken during the Deep Propagating Gravity Wave Experiment (DEEPWAVE) in New Zealand. By combining different methods, we develop a new approach to quantify location, direction and irreversibility of the water vapor transport during a strong mountain wave event on 4 July 2014. A large positive vertical water vapor flux is detected above the Southern Alps extending from the troposphere to the stratosphere in the altitude range between 7.7 and 13.0 km. Wavelet analysis for the 8.9 km altitude level shows that the enhanced upward water vapor transport above the mountains is caused by mountain waves with horizontal wavelengths between 22 and 60 km. A downward transport of water vapor with 22 km wavelength is observed in the lee-side of the mountain ridge. While it is a priori not clear whether the observed fluxes are irreversible, low Richardson numbers derived from dropsonde data indicate enhanced turbulence in the tropopause region related to the mountain wave event. Together with the analysis of the water vapor to ozone correlation we find indications for vertical transport followed by irreversible mixing of water vapor. For our case study, we further estimate greater than 1 W m−2 radiative forcing by the increased water vapor concentrations in the UTLS above the Southern Alps of New Zealand resulting from mountain waves relative to unperturbed conditions. Hence, mountain waves have a great potential to affect the water vapor distribution in the UTLS. Our regional study may motivate further investigations of the global effects of mountain waves on the UTLS water vapor distributions and its radiative effects.

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