Gravity wave variations and contributions to stratospheric sudden warming using long-term ERA5 model output

Author(s):  
Chihoko Y. Cullens ◽  
Brentha Thurairajah
1995 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 377-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. Fitzharris ◽  
C.E. Garr

There are no systematic measurements of seasonal snow in the Southern Alps, New Zealand, so little information is available as to its past variability. To rectify this, a conceptual model is developed that calculates seasonal snow deposition, ablation and accumulation. The model is based on daily temperature and precipitation data from long-established climate stations about the Southern Alps. Output is given as daily specific net balance of snow at five elevation bands from 1000 to 2200 m and as total water stored as seasonal snow over several major river catchments. Model output is in general agreement when tested against the few historical observations of snow and is tuned to the long-term water balance. A chronology of seasonal snow is reconstructed from 1931 to 1993. Area-averaged annual maxima average 366 mm. They show no trend, but large inter-annual variability from less than 200 to over 650 mm w.e. Seasonal snow can peak at any time between September and January.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 1853-1865
Author(s):  
Kenneth Minschwaner ◽  
Anthony T. Giljum ◽  
Gloria L. Manney ◽  
Irina Petropavlovskikh ◽  
Bryan J. Johnson ◽  
...  

Abstract. We quantify ozone variability in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) by investigating lamination features in balloon measurements of ozone mixing ratio and potential temperature. Laminae are defined as stratified variations in ozone that meet or exceed a 10 % threshold for deviations from a basic state vertical profile of ozone. The basic state profiles are derived for each sounding using smoothing methods applied within a vertical coordinate system relative to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) tropopause. We present results of this analysis for the 25-year record of ozonesonde measurements from Boulder, Colorado. The mean number of ozone laminae identified per sounding is about 9±2 (1σ). The root-mean-square relative amplitude is 20 %, and laminae with much larger amplitudes (>40 %) are seen in ∼ 2 % of the profiles. The vertical scale of detected ozone laminae typically ranges between 0.5 and 1.2 km. The lamina occurrence frequency varies significantly with altitude and is largest within ∼2 km of the tropopause. Overall, ozone laminae identified in our analysis account for more than one-third of the total intra-seasonal variability in ozone. A correlation technique between ozone and potential temperature is used to classify the subset of ozone laminae that are associated with gravity wave (GW) phenomena, which accounts for 28 % of all laminar ozone features. The remaining 72 % of laminae arise from non-gravity wave (NGW) phenomena. There are differences in both the vertical distribution and seasonality of GW versus NGW ozone laminae that are linked to the contrast in main generating mechanisms for each laminae type.


1995 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 377-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. Fitzharris ◽  
C.E. Garr

There are no systematic measurements of seasonal snow in the Southern Alps, New Zealand, so little information is available as to its past variability. To rectify this, a conceptual model is developed that calculates seasonal snow deposition, ablation and accumulation. The model is based on daily temperature and precipitation data from long-established climate stations about the Southern Alps. Output is given as daily specific net balance of snow at five elevation bands from 1000 to 2200 m and as total water stored as seasonal snow over several major river catchments. Model output is in general agreement when tested against the few historical observations of snow and is tuned to the long-term water balance. A chronology of seasonal snow is reconstructed from 1931 to 1993. Area-averaged annual maxima average 366 mm. They show no trend, but large inter-annual variability from less than 200 to over 650 mm w.e. Seasonal snow can peak at any time between September and January.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra P. Singh ◽  
Duggirala Pallamraju

Abstract. Using 3 years (2013–2015) of O2(0–1) and OH(6–2) band nightglow emission intensities and corresponding rotational temperatures as tracers of mesospheric dynamics, we have investigated large- and small-timescale variations in the mesosphere over a low-latitude location, Gurushikhar, Mount Abu (24.6° N, 72.8° E), in India. Both O2 and OH intensities show variations similar to those of the number of sunspots and F10.7 cm radio flux with coherent periodicities of 150 ± 2.1, 195 ± 3.6, 270 ± 6.4, and 420 ± 14.8 days, indicating a strong solar influence on mesospheric dynamics. In addition, both mesospheric airglow intensities also showed periodicities of 84 ± 0.6, 95 ± 0.9, and 122 ± 1.3 days which are of atmospheric origin. With regard to the variability of the order of a few days, O2 and OH intensities were found to be correlated, in general, except when altitude-dependent atmospheric processes were operative. To understand mesospheric gravity wave behavior over the long term, we have carried out a statistical study using the periodicities derived from the nocturnal variations in all four parameters (O2 and OH intensities and their respective temperatures). It was found that the major wave periodicity of around 2 h duration is present in all the four parameters. Our analyses also reveal that the range of periods in O2 and OH intensities and temperatures is 11 to 24 and 20 to 60 min, respectively. Periods less than 15 min were not present in the temperatures but were prevalent in both emission intensities. No seasonal dependence was found in either the wave periodicities or the number of their occurrence.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1395-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Ehard ◽  
P. Achtert ◽  
J. Gumbel

Abstract. This paper presents an analysis of gravity wave activity over northern Sweden as deduced from 18 years of wintertime lidar measurements at Esrange (68° N, 21° E). Gravity wave potential energy density (GWPED) was used to characterize the strength of gravity waves in the altitude regions 30–40 km and 40–50 km. The obtained values exceed previous observations reported in the literature. This is suggested to be due to Esrange's location downwind of the Scandinavian mountain range and due to differences in the various methods that are currently used to retrieve gravity wave parameters. The analysis method restricted the identification of the dominating vertical wavelengths to a range from 2 to 13 km. No preference was found for any wavelength in this window. Monthly mean values of GWPED show that most of the gravity waves' energy dissipates well below the stratopause and that higher altitude regions show only small dissipation rates of GWPED. Our analysis does not reproduce the previously reported negative trend in gravity wave activity over Esrange. The observed inter-annual variability of GWPED is connected to the occurrence of stratospheric warmings with generally lower wintertime mean GWPED during years with major stratospheric warmings. A bimodal GWPED occurrence frequency indicates that gravity wave activity at Esrange is affected by both ubiquitous wave sources and orographic forcing.


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