scholarly journals Review of “The tropical tropopause layer in reanalysis data sets”

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anonymous
Keyword(s):  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Tropical Tropopause

scholarly journals Temperature and tropopause characteristics from reanalyses data in the tropical tropopause layer

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 753-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susann Tegtmeier ◽  
James Anstey ◽  
Sean Davis ◽  
Rossana Dragani ◽  
Yayoi Harada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
Occultation Data ◽  
Cold Point ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. The tropical tropopause layer (TTL) is the transition region between the well-mixed convective troposphere and the radiatively controlled stratosphere with air masses showing chemical and dynamical properties of both regions. The representation of the TTL in meteorological reanalysis data sets is important for studying the complex interactions of circulation, convection, trace gases, clouds, and radiation. In this paper, we present the evaluation of climatological and long-term TTL temperature and tropopause characteristics in the reanalysis data sets ERA-Interim, ERA5, JRA-25, JRA-55, MERRA, MERRA-2, NCEP-NCAR (R1), and CFSR. The evaluation has been performed as part of the SPARC (Stratosphere–troposphere Processes and their Role in Climate) Reanalysis Intercomparison Project (S-RIP). The most recent atmospheric reanalysis data sets (ERA-Interim, ERA5, JRA-55, MERRA-2, and CFSR) all provide realistic representations of the major characteristics of the temperature structure within the TTL. There is good agreement between reanalysis estimates of tropical mean temperatures and radio occultation data, with relatively small cold biases for most data sets. Temperatures at the cold point and lapse rate tropopause levels, on the other hand, show warm biases in reanalyses when compared to observations. This tropopause-level warm bias is related to the vertical resolution of the reanalysis data, with the smallest bias found for data sets with the highest vertical resolution around the tropopause. Differences in the cold point temperature maximize over equatorial Africa, related to Kelvin wave activity and associated disturbances in TTL temperatures. Interannual variability in reanalysis temperatures is best constrained in the upper TTL, with larger differences at levels below the cold point. The reanalyses reproduce the temperature responses to major dynamical and radiative signals such as volcanic eruptions and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Long-term reanalysis trends in temperature in the upper TTL show good agreement with trends derived from adjusted radiosonde data sets indicating significant stratospheric cooling of around −0.5 to −1 K per decade. At 100 hPa and the cold point, most of the reanalyses suggest small but significant cooling trends of −0.3 to −0.6 K per decade that are statistically consistent with trends based on the adjusted radiosonde data sets. Advances of the reanalysis and observational systems over the last decades have led to a clear improvement in the TTL reanalysis products over time. Biases of the temperature profiles and differences in interannual variability clearly decreased in 2006, when densely sampled radio occultation data started being assimilated by the reanalyses. While there is an overall good agreement, different reanalyses offer different advantages in the TTL such as realistic profile and cold point temperature, continuous time series, or a realistic representation of signals of interannual variability. Their use in model simulations and in comparisons with climate model output should be tailored to their specific strengths and weaknesses.

scholarly journals The tropical tropopause layer in reanalysis data sets

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susann Tegtmeier ◽  
James Anstey ◽  
Sean Davis ◽  
Rossana Dragani ◽  
Yayoi Harada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Radio Occultation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
Occultation Data ◽  
Cold Point ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. The tropical tropopause layer (TTL) is the transition region between the well mixed, convective troposphere and the radiatively controlled stratosphere with air masses showing chemical and dynamical properties of both regions. The representation of the TTL in meteorological reanalysis data sets is important for studying the complex interactions of circulation, convection, trace gases, clouds and radiation. In this paper, we present the evaluation of TTL characteristics in reanalysis data sets that has been performed as part of the SPARC (Stratosphere– troposphere Processes and their Role in Climate) Reanalysis Intercomparison Project (S-RIP). The most recent atmospheric reanalysis data sets all provide realistic representations of the major characteristics of the temperature structure within the TTL. There is good agreement between reanalysis estimates of tropical mean temperatures and radio occultation data, with relatively small cold biases for most data sets. Temperatures at the cold point and lapse rate tropopause levels, on the other hand, show warm biases in reanalyses when compared to observations. This tropopause-level warm bias is related to the vertical resolution of the reanalysis data, with the smallest bias found for data sets with the highest vertical resolution around the tropopause. Differences of the cold point temperature maximise over equatorial Africa, related to Kelvin wave activity and associated disturbances in TTL temperatures. Model simulations of air mass transport into the stratosphere driven by reanalyses with a warm cold point bias can be expected to have too little dehydration. Interannual variability in reanalysis temperatures is best constrained in the upper TTL, with larger differences at levels below the cold point. The reanalyses reproduce the temperature responses to major dynamical and radiative signals such as volcanic eruptions and the QBO. Long-term reanalysis trends in temperature in the upper TTL show good agreement with trends derived from adjusted radiosonde data sets indicating significant stratospheric cooling of around −0.5 to −1 K/decade. At 100 hPa and the cold point, most of the reanalyses suggest small but significant cooling trends of −0.3 to −0.6 K/decade that are statistically consistent with trends based on the adjusted radiosonde data sets. Advances of the reanalysis and observational systems over the last decades have led to a clear improvement of the TTL reanalyses products over time. Biases of the temperature profiles and differences in interannual variability clearly decreased in 2006, when densely sampled radio occultation data started being assimilated by the reanalyses. While there is an overall good agreement, different reanalyses offer different advantages in the TTL such as realistic profile and cold point temperature, continuous time series or a realistic representation of signals of interannual variability. Their use in model simulations and in comparisons with climate model output should be tailored to their specific strengths and weaknesses.

scholarly journals The relationship between tropospheric wave forcing and tropical lower stratospheric water vapor

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 9563-9581 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dhomse ◽  
M. Weber ◽  
J. Burrows
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Planetary Wave ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Stratospheric Water Vapor ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
Eddy Heat Flux ◽  
Sudden Decrease

Abstract. The compact relationship between stratospheric temperatures (as well as ozone) and tropospheric generated planetary wave activity have been widely discussed. Higher wave activity leads to a strengthening of the Brewer-Dobson (BD) circulation, which results in warmer/colder temperatures in the polar/tropical stratosphere. The influence of this wave activity on stratospheric water vapor (WV) is not yet well explored primarily due to lack of high quality long term data sets. Using WV data from HALOE and SAGE II, an anti-correlation between planetary wave driving (here expressed by the mid-latitude eddy heat flux at 50 hPa added from both hemispheres) and tropical lower stratospheric (TLS) WV has been found. This appears to be the most direct manifestation of the inter-annual variability of the known relationship between ascending motion in the tropical stratosphere (due to rising branch of the BD circulation) and the amount of the WV entering into the stratosphere from the tropical tropopause layer. A decrease in planetary wave activity in the mid-nineties is probably responsible for the increasing trends in stratospheric WV until late 1990s. After 2000 a sudden decrease in lower stratospheric WV has been reported and was observed by different satellite instruments such as HALOE, SAGE II and POAM III indicating that the lower stratosphere has become drier since then. This is consistent with a sudden rise in the combined mid-latitude eddy heat flux with nearly equal contribution from both hemispheres. The low water vapor and enhanced strength of the Brewer-Dobson circulation has persisted until now. It is estimated that the strengthening of the BD circulation after 2000 contributed to a 0.7 K cooling in the TLS.

scholarly journals Tropical convective transport and the Walker circulation

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 9791-9797 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Hosking ◽  
M. R. Russo ◽  
P. Braesicke ◽  
J. A. Pyle
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Walker Circulation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Convective Transport ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
The Walker Circulation

Abstract. We introduce a methodology to visualise rapid vertical and zonal tropical transport pathways. Using prescribed sea-surface temperatures in four monthly model integrations for 2005, we characterise preferred transport routes from the troposphere to the stratosphere in a high resolution climate model. Most efficient transport is modelled over the Maritime Continent (MC) in November and February, i.e., boreal winter. In these months, the ascending branch of the Walker Circulation over the MC is formed in conjunction with strong deep convection, allowing fast transport into the stratosphere. In the model the upper tropospheric zonal winds associated with the Walker Circulation are also greatest in these months in agreement with ERA-Interim reanalysis data. We conclude that the Walker circulation plays an important role in the seasonality of fast tropical transport from the lower and middle troposphere to the upper troposphere and so impacts at the same time the potential supply of surface emissions to the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and subsequently to the stratosphere.

scholarly journals Global temperature estimates in the troposphere and stratosphere: a validation study of COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 measurements

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 897-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kishore ◽  
S. P. Namboothiri ◽  
J. H. Jiang ◽  
V. Sivakumar ◽  
K. Igarashi
Keyword(s):  
Validation Study ◽  
Radio Occultation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
First Year ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Tropopause Region ◽  
Environmental Prediction ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. This paper mainly focuses on the validation of temperature estimates derived with the newly launched Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC)/Formosa Satellite 3 (FORMOSAT-3) system. The analysis is based on the radio occultation (RO) data samples collected during the first year observation from April 2006 to April 2007. For the validation, we have used the operational stratospheric analyses including the National Centers for Environmental Prediction - Reanalysis (NCEP), the Japanese 25-year Reanalysis (JRA-25), and the United Kingdom Met Office (MetO) data sets. Comparisons done in different formats reveal good agreement between the COSMIC and reanalysis outputs. Spatially, the largest deviations are noted in the polar latitudes, and height-wise, the tropical tropopause region noted the maximum differences (2–4 K). We found that among the three reanalysis data sets the NCEP data sets have the best resemblance with the COSMIC measurements.

scholarly journals On the Signatures of Equatorial and Extratropical Wave Forcing in Tropical Tropopause Layer Temperatures

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1084-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Grise ◽  
David W. J. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Planetary Waves ◽  
Large Temperature ◽  
Equatorial Waves ◽  
Vertical Resolution ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Temperature Anomalies ◽  
Tropical Tropopause ◽  
Asymmetric Component ◽  
High Vertical Resolution

Abstract Temperatures in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) play an important role in stratosphere–troposphere exchange and in the formation and maintenance of thin cirrus clouds. Many previous studies have examined the contributions of extratropical and equatorial waves to the TTL using coarse-vertical-resolution satellite and reanalysis data. In this study, the authors provide new insight into the role of extratropical and equatorial waves in the TTL using high-vertical-resolution GPS radio occultation data. The results examine the influence of four different wave forcings on the TTL: extratropical waves that propagate vertically into the stratosphere, extratropical waves that propagate meridionally into the subtropical stratosphere, extratropical waves that propagate meridionally into the subtropical troposphere, and the equatorial planetary waves. The vertically and meridionally propagating extratropical stratospheric waves are associated with deep, zonally symmetric temperature anomalies that extend and amplify with height throughout the lower-to-middle tropical stratosphere. In contrast, the extratropical tropospheric waves and the equatorial planetary waves are associated with tropical temperature anomalies that are confined below 20-km altitude. The equatorial planetary waves dominate the zonally asymmetric component of the TTL temperature field, and both the equatorial planetary waves and the extratropical tropospheric waves are linked to large temperature variability in a 1–2-km-deep layer near the tropical tropopause. The fine vertical scale of the TTL temperature features associated with the equatorial planetary waves and the extratropical tropospheric waves is only readily apparent in high-vertical-resolution data.

scholarly journals Wave activity in the tropical tropopause layer in seven reanalysis and four chemistry climate model data sets

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (D12) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fujiwara ◽  
J. Suzuki ◽  
A. Gettelman ◽  
M. I. Hegglin ◽  
H. Akiyoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Model Data ◽  
Tropical Tropopause Layer ◽  
Tropical Tropopause
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