scholarly journals On the consistency of HNO<sub>3</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> in the Aleutian High reigon from the Nimbus 7 LIMS version 6 dataset

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Remsberg ◽  
Murali Natarajan ◽  
V. Lynn Harvey

Abstract. This study uses photochemical calculations along kinematic trajectories in conjunction with Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) observations to examine the changes in HNO3 and NO2 near 30 hPa in the region of the Aleutian High (AH) during the minor warming event of January 1979. An earlier analysis of Version 5 (V5) LIMS data indicated increases in HNO3 without a corresponding decrease in NO2 in that region and a wave-2 signature in the zonal distribution of HNO3, unlike the wave-1 signal in ozone and other tracers. Version 6 (V6) LIMS also shows an increase of HNO3 in that region, but NO2 is smaller than from V5. The focus here is to convey that both V6 HNO3 and NO2 are of better quality than from V5, as shown here by a re-examination of their mutual changes in the AH region. Photochemical model calculations initialized with LIMS V6 data show increases of about 2 ppbv in HNO3 over 10 days along trajectories terminating in the AH region on 28 January. Those increases are mainly a result of the nighttime heterogeneous conversion of N2O5 on background stratospheric sulfuric acid aerosols. Changes in the composition of the air parcels depend on the extent of exposure to sunlight and, hence, on the dynamically controlled history of the trajectories. Trajectories that begin in low latitudes and traverse to across the Pole in a short time lead to the low HNO3 in the region separating the anticyclone from the polar vortex, both of which contain higher HNO3. These findings help to explain the observed seasonal evolution and areal extent of both species. V6 HNO3 and NO2 are suitable, within their errors, for the validation of stratospheric chemistry/climate models.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 3611-3626
Author(s):  
Ellis Remsberg ◽  
Murali Natarajan ◽  
V. Lynn Harvey

Abstract. This study uses photochemical calculations along kinematic trajectories in conjunction with Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) observations to examine the changes in HNO3 and NO2 near 30 hPa in the region of the Aleutian High (AH) during the minor warming event of January 1979. An earlier analysis of Version 5 (V5) LIMS data indicated increases in HNO3 without a corresponding decrease in NO2 in that region and a quasi-wave 2 signature in the zonal distribution of HNO3, unlike the wave 1 signal in ozone and other tracers. Version 6 (V6) LIMS also shows an increase of HNO3 in that region, but NO2 is smaller than from V5. The focus here is to convey that V6 HNO3 and NO2 are of good quality, as shown by a re-examination of their mutual changes in the AH region. Photochemical model calculations initialized with LIMS V6 data show increases of about 2 ppbv in HNO3 over 10 days along trajectories terminating in the AH region on 28 January. Those increases are mainly a result of the nighttime heterogeneous conversion of N2O5 on background stratospheric sulfuric acid aerosols. Changes in the composition of the air parcels depend on the extent of exposure to sunlight and, hence, on the dynamically controlled history of the trajectories. Trajectories that begin in low latitudes and traverse to across the North Pole in a short time lead to the low HNO3 in the region separating the anticyclone from the polar vortex, both of which contain higher HNO3. These findings help to explain the observed seasonal evolution and areal extent of both species. V6 HNO3 and NO2 are suitable, within their errors, for the validation of stratospheric chemistry–climate models.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Spang ◽  
L. Hoffmann ◽  
M. Höpfner ◽  
S. Griessbach ◽  
R. Müller ◽  
...  

Abstract. The MIPAS instrument onboard the ESA Envisat satellite operated from July 2002 until April 2012. The infrared limb emission measurements represent a unique dataset of day and night observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) up to both poles. Cloud detection sensitivity is comparable to spaceborne lidars, and it is possible to classify different cloud types from the spectral measurements in different atmospheric windows regions. Here we present a new PSC classification scheme based on the combination of a well-established two-colour ratio method and multiple 2D brightness temperature difference probability density functions. The method is a simple probabilistic classifier based on Bayes' theorem with a strong independence assumption. The method has been tested in conjunction with a database of radiative transfer model calculations of realistic PSC particle size distributions, geometries, and composition. The Bayesian classifier distinguishes between solid particles of ice and nitric acid trihydrate (NAT), as well as liquid droplets of super-cooled ternary solution (STS). The classification results are compared to coincident measurements from the space borne lidar CALIOP instrument over the temporal overlap of both satellite missions (June 2006 to March 2012). Both datasets show a good agreement for the specific PSC classes, although the viewing geometries, vertical and horizontal resolution are quite different. Discrepancies are observed for the MIPAS ice class. The Bayesian classifier for MIPAS identifies substantially more ice clouds in the southern hemisphere polar vortex than CALIOP. This disagreement is attributed in parts to the difference in the sensitivity on mixed-type clouds. Ice seems to dominate the spectral behaviour in the limb infrared spectra and may cause an overestimation in ice occurrence compared to the real fraction of ice within the PSC area in the polar vortex. The entire MIPAS measurement period was processed with the new classification approach. Examples like the detection of the Antarctic NAT belt during early winter, and its possible link to mountain wave events over the Antarctic Peninsula, which are observed by the AIRS instrument, are highlighting the importance of a climatology of in total 9 southern and 10 northern hemisphere winters. The new dataset is valuable both for detailed process studies, and for comparisons with and improvements of the PSC parameterisations used in chemistry transport and climate models.


2018 ◽  
Vol 940 (10) ◽  
pp. 2-6
Author(s):  
J.A. Younes ◽  
M.G. Mustafin

The issue of calculating the plane rectangular coordinates using the data obtained by the satellite observations during the creation of the geodetic networks is discussed in the article. The peculiarity of these works is in conversion of the coordinates into the Mercator projection, while the plane coordinate system on the base of Gauss-Kruger projection is used in Russia. When using the technology of global navigation satellite system, this task is relevant for any point (area) of the Earth due to a fundamentally different approach in determining the coordinates. The fact is that satellite determinations are much more precise than the ground coordination methods (triangulation and others). In addition, the conversion to the zonal coordinate system is associated with errors; the value at present can prove to be completely critical. The expediency of using the Mercator projection in the topographic and geodetic works production at low latitudes is shown numerically on the basis of model calculations. To convert the coordinates from the geocentric system with the Mercator projection, a programming algorithm which is widely used in Russia was chosen. For its application under low-latitude conditions, the modification of known formulas to be used in Saudi Arabia is implemented.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 396-396
Author(s):  
I. Pustylnik

We study the short-time evolutionary history of the well-known contact binary VW Cep. Our analysis is based partly on the numerous UBV lightcurves obtained at Tartu Observatory, IUE spectra, and samples from the published data. Special attention is given to the effects of asymmetry of the light curves. A higher degree of asymmetry outside the eclipses along with the significant displacements of the brightness maxima in respect to the elongation phase is interpreted as evidence that a considerable portion of the flaring source is concentrated close to the neck connecting the components. We discuss the nature of asymmetry in terms of possible mass exchange and the flare activity and compare the results of our model computations with the record of orbital period variations over the last 60 years.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (21) ◽  
pp. 1330018 ◽  
Author(s):  
ENRICO SCOMPARIN

Heavy quarkonium states are considered as one of the key observables for the study of the phase transition from a system made of hadrons towards a Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP). In the last 25 years, experiments at CERN and Brookhaven have studied collisions of heavy ions looking for a suppression of charmonia/bottomonia, considered as a signature of the phase transition. After an introduction to the main concepts behind these studies and a short review of the SPS and RHIC results, I will describe the results obtained in Pb – Pb collisions by the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The ALICE findings will be critically compared to those of lower energy experiments, to CMS results, and to model calculations. The large cross-sections for heavy-quark production at LHC energies are expected to induce a novel production mechanism for charmonia in heavy-ion collisions, related to a recombination of [Formula: see text] pairs along the history of the collision and/or at hadronization. The occurrence of such a process at the LHC will be discussed. Finally, prospects for future measurements will be shortly addressed.


Anthropos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-378
Author(s):  
Carlos Nogueira

In this article I address the problem of the definition, manifestations, characteristics, and causes of catastrophic evil (one that leads hundreds or thousands of people to exclusion, suffering and death in a short time). To this end, I start from a set of George Steiner’s theses on the nature of evil that José Saramago’s thought and literary discourse confirm and support with an eloquence and depth that is rare in both the history of ideas and and in universal literature.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 8935-8948 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cagnazzo ◽  
E. Manzini ◽  
N. Calvo ◽  
A. Douglass ◽  
H. Akiyoshi ◽  
...  

Abstract. The connection between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Northern polar stratosphere has been established from observations and atmospheric modeling. Here a systematic inter-comparison of the sensitivity of the modeled stratosphere to ENSO in Chemistry Climate Models (CCMs) is reported. This work uses results from a number of the CCMs included in the 2006 ozone assessment. In the lower stratosphere, the mean of all model simulations reports a warming of the polar vortex during strong ENSO events in February–March, consistent with but smaller than the estimate from satellite observations and ERA40 reanalysis. The anomalous warming is associated with an anomalous dynamical increase of column ozone north of 70° N that is accompanied by coherent column ozone decrease in the Tropics, in agreement with that deduced from the NIWA column ozone database, implying an increased residual circulation in the mean of all model simulations during ENSO. The spread in the model responses is partly due to the large internal stratospheric variability and it is shown that it crucially depends on the representation of the tropospheric ENSO teleconnection in the models.


1996 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1749-1756 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Molina

The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are industrialchemicals used as solvents, refrigerants, plastic foam blowing agents,etc. These compounds are eventually released to the environment; theyslowly drift into the stratosphere, where they decompose, initiatinga catalytic process involving chlorine free radicals and leading toozone destruction. The stratospheric ozone layer is important for theearth's energy budget, and it shields the surface of the earth fromultraviolet radiation from the sun. Very significant depletion of theozone layer has been observed in the spring months over Antarctica duringthe last 10-15 years. Laboratory experiments, model calculations andfield measurements, which include several aircraft expeditions, haveyielded a wealth of information which clearly points to the CFCs asthe main cause of this depletion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-101
Author(s):  
Luca Dei Cas ◽  
Maria Luisa Pastore ◽  
Andrea Pavan ◽  
Nicola Petrella

Abstract. In areas located near large rock cliffs, risk reduction by early warning monitoring systems highligts potentiality but also critical issues and limits. The paper examines two rock slope failures that occurred in a short time from each other near inhabited areas in the Italian Alps. The viscous behavior of the rock mass was reconstructed through data processing from ground-based Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR), and elaboration of acceleration and speed curves. Landslides types and underlying complexity associated with rock detachment mechanisms suggest the identification of precautionary alarm thresholds for collapse forecasting. The analysis of financial outlay, both for mitigation works and for monitoring activities, highlight the adequacy and the opportunity to combine passive systems, like embankments or rockfall drapery meshes, with a reliable monitoring network for early warning.


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