Formation of the double stratopause and elevated stratopause associated with the major stratospheric sudden warming in 2018/19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruka Okui ◽  
Kaoru Sato ◽  
Dai Koshin ◽  
Shingo Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Residual Circulation ◽  
Stratospheric Sudden Warming

<p>After several recent stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) events, the stratopause disappeared and reformed at a higher altitude, forming an elevated stratopause (ES). The relative roles of atmospheric waves in the mechanism of ES formation are still not fully understood. We performed a hindcast of the 2018/19 SSW event using a gravity-wave (GW) permitting general circulation model containing the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), and analyzed dynamical phenomena throughout the entire middle atmosphere. An ES formed after the major warming on 1 January 2019. There was a marked temperature maximum in the polar upper mesosphere around 28 December 2018 prior to the disappearance of the descending stratopause associated with the SSW. This temperature structure with two maxima in the vertical is referred to as a double stratopause (DS). We showed that adiabatic heating from the residual circulation driven by GW forcing (GWF) causes barotropic and/or baroclinic instability before DS formation, causing in situ generation of planetary waves (PWs). These PWs propagate into the MLT and exert negative forcing, which contributes to DS formation. Both negative GWF and PWF above the recovered eastward jet play crucial roles in ES formation. The altitude of the recovered eastward jet, which regulates GWF and PWF height, is likely affected by the DS structure. Simple vertical propagation from the lower atmosphere is insufficient to explain the presence of the GWs observed in this event.</p>

scholarly journals Effects of Latitude-Dependent Gravity Wave Source Variations on the Middle and Upper Atmosphere

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdal Yiğit ◽  
Alexander S. Medvedev ◽  
Manfred Ern
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Wave Source

Atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) are generated in the lower atmosphere by various weather phenomena. They propagate upward, carry energy and momentum to higher altitudes, and appreciably influence the general circulation upon depositing them in the middle and upper atmosphere. We use a three-dimensional first-principle general circulation model (GCM) with implemented nonlinear whole atmosphere GW parameterization to study the global climatology of wave activity and produced effects at altitudes up to the upper thermosphere. The numerical experiments were guided by the GW momentum fluxes and temperature variances as measured in 2010 by the SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) instrument onboard NASA’s TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics Dynamics) satellite. This includes the latitudinal dependence and magnitude of GW activity in the lower stratosphere for the boreal summer season. The modeling results were compared to the SABER temperature and total absolute momentum flux and Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) data in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Simulations suggest that, in order to reproduce the observed circulation and wave activity in the middle atmosphere, GW fluxes that are smaller than observed fluxes have to be used at the source level in the lower atmosphere. This is because observations contain a broader spectrum of GWs, while parameterizations capture only a portion relevant to the middle and upper atmosphere dynamics. Accounting for the latitudinal variations of the source appreciably improves simulations.

scholarly journals A study into the effect of the diurnal tide on the structure of the background mesosphere and thermosphere using the new coupled middle atmosphere and thermosphere (CMAT) general circulation model

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Harris ◽  
N. F. Arnold ◽  
A. D. Aylward
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation Model ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Atomic Oxygen ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Diurnal Tide ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. A new coupled middle atmosphere and thermosphere general circulation model has been developed, and some first results are presented. An investigation into the effects of the diurnal tide upon the mean composition, dynamics and energetics was carried out for equinox conditions. Previous studies have shown that tides deplete mean atomic oxygen in the upper mesosphere-lower thermosphere due to an increased recombination in the tidal displaced air parcels. The model runs presented suggest that the mean residual circulation associated with the tidal dissipation also plays an important role. Stronger lower boundary tidal forcing was seen to increase the equatorial local diurnal maximum of atomic oxygen and the associated 0(1S) 557.7 nm green line volume emission rates. The changes in the mean background temperature structure were found to correspond to changes in the mean circulation and exothermic chemical heating.Key words. Atmospheric composition and structure (middle atmosphere – composition and chemistry) Meterology and atmospheric dynamics (middle atmosphere dynamics; waves and tides)

Maintenance of the Stratospheric Structure in an Idealized General Circulation Model

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 3341-3358 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jucker ◽  
S. Fueglistaler ◽  
G. K. Vallis
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Field ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Stationary Waves

Abstract This work explores the maintenance of the stratospheric structure in a primitive equation model that is forced by a Newtonian cooling with a prescribed radiative equilibrium temperature field. Models such as this are well suited to analyze and address questions regarding the nature of wave propagation and troposphere–stratosphere interactions. The focus lies on the lower to midstratosphere and the mean annual cycle, with its large interhemispheric variations in the radiative background state and forcing, is taken as a benchmark to be simulated with reasonable verisimilitude. A reasonably realistic basic stratospheric temperature structure is a necessary first step in understanding stratospheric dynamics. It is first shown that using a realistic radiative background temperature field based on radiative transfer calculations substantially improves the basic structure of the model stratosphere compared to previously used setups. Then, the physical processes that are needed to maintain the seasonal cycle of temperature in the lower stratosphere are explored. It is found that an improved stratosphere and seasonally varying topographically forced stationary waves are, in themselves, insufficient to produce a seasonal cycle of sufficient amplitude in the tropics, even if the topographic forcing is large. Upwelling associated with baroclinic wave activity is an important influence on the tropical lower stratosphere and the seasonal variation of tropospheric baroclinic activity contributes significantly to the seasonal cycle of the lower tropical stratosphere. Given a reasonably realistic basic stratospheric structure and a seasonal cycle in both stationary wave activity and tropospheric baroclinic instability, it is possible to obtain a seasonal cycle in the lower stratosphere of amplitude comparable to the observations.

scholarly journals The atmospheric chemistry general circulation model ECHAM5/MESSy1: consistent simulation of ozone from the surface to the mesosphere

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 5067-5104 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jöckel ◽  
H. Tost ◽  
A. Pozzer ◽  
C. Brühl ◽  
J. Buchholz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation Model ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Direct Evaluation ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation

Abstract. The new Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) describes atmospheric chemistry and meteorological processes in a modular framework, following strict coding standards. It has been coupled to the ECHAM5 general circulation model, which has been slightly modified for this purpose. A 90-layer model setup up to 0.01 hPa was used at spectral T42 resolution to simulate the lower and middle atmosphere. With the high vertical resolution the model simulates the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. The model meteorology has been tested to check the influence of the changes to ECHAM5 and the radiation interactions with the new representation of atmospheric composition. In the simulations presented here a Newtonian relaxation technique was applied in the tropospheric part of the domain to weakly nudge the model towards the analysed meteorology during the period 1998–2005. This allows an efficient and direct evaluation with satellite and in-situ data. It is shown that the tropospheric wave forcing of the stratosphere in the model suffices to reproduce major stratospheric warming events leading e.g. to the vortex split over Antarctica in 2002. Characteristic features such as dehydration and denitrification caused by the sedimentation of polar stratospheric cloud particles and ozone depletion during winter and spring are simulated well, although ozone loss in the lower polar stratosphere is slightly underestimated. The model realistically simulates stratosphere-troposphere exchange processes as indicated by comparisons with satellite and in situ measurements. The evaluation of tropospheric chemistry presented here focuses on the distributions of ozone, hydroxyl radicals, carbon monoxide and reactive nitrogen compounds. In spite of minor shortcomings, mostly related to the relatively coarse T42 resolution and the neglect of inter-annual changes in biomass burning emissions, the main characteristics of the trace gas distributions are generally reproduced well. The MESSy submodels and the ECHAM5/MESSy1 model output are available through the internet on request.

scholarly journals Superrotation Maintained by Meridional Circulation and Waves in a Venus-Like AGCM

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 3296-3314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Yamamoto ◽  
Masaaki Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Meridional Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Shear Instability ◽  
Momentum Transport ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Angular Momentum Transport

Fully developed superrotation—60 times faster than the planetary rotation (243 days)—is simulated using a Venus-like atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). The angular momentum of the superrotation is pumped up by the meridional circulation with the help of waves, which accelerate the equatorial zonal flow. The waves generated by solar heating and shear instability play a crucial role in the atmospheric dynamics of the Venusian superrotation. Vertical and horizontal momentum transports of thermal tides maintain the equatorial superrotation in the middle atmosphere, while equatorward eddy momentum flux due to shear instability raises the efficiency of upward angular momentum transport by the meridional circulation in the lower atmosphere. In addition to the superrotation, some waves simulated in the cloud layer are consistent with the observations. The planetary-scale Kelvin wave identified as the near-infrared (NIR) oscillation with periods of 5–6 days is generated by the shear instability near the cloud base, and the temperature structure of the diurnal tide is similar to the infrared (IR) observation near the cloud top. Sensitivities to the bottom boundary conditions are also examined in this paper, since the surface physical processes are still unknown. The decrease of the equator–pole temperature difference and the increase of the surface frictional time constant result in the weaknesses of the meridional circulation and superrotation. In the cases of the weak superrotation, the vertical angular momentum transport due to the meridional circulation is inefficient and the equatorward eddy angular momentum transport is absent near 60-km altitude.

INM RAS coupled atmosphere–ionosphere general circulation model INMAIM (0–130 km)

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry V. Kulyamin ◽  
Evgenii M. Volodin
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation Model ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Plasma Chemistry ◽  
Lower Ionosphere ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Radiative Processes ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Climatic Characteristics

Abstract The paper presents a new INM RAS atmospheric general circulation model, which includes troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and the lower thermosphere, as well as the lower ionospheric regions (INMAIM). Based on the atmospheric part of the INM climatic model INMCM, a new general circulation model was created by adding the middle atmosphere and lower ionosphere description up to 130 km altitudes. A new computational unit for radiative processes calculation was developed for this purpose. For the lower ionosphere a separate plasma chemistry local model was created. The identification of the INMAIM model climate in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere was carried out based on climatological observations. It was shown that model reproduces the general climatic characteristics considerably well.

Solar Tides as Revealed by Measurements of Mesosphere Temperature by the MLS Experiment on UARS

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1776-1797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Forbes ◽  
Dong Wu
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Interaction ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Planetary Wave ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Rich Mixture ◽  
Tidal Theory ◽  
Stationary Planetary Wave

Abstract Temperatures between 25 and 86 km measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) experiment on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) are analyzed to delineate diurnal, semidiurnal, and terdiurnal tidal structures and stationary planetary waves. These Fourier components are determined from temperatures averaged in bins covering 5° latitude, 30° longitude and 1 h in local time. This study confirms the presence of diurnal nonmigrating tides with zonal wavenumbers s = 0, 2, −3 [s > 0 (s < 0) implying westward (eastward) propagation] and semidiurnal tides with s = 1 and 3, and some components of lesser importance that were previously determined from UARS wind measurements near 95 km. The seasonal–latitudinal and height structures of these components are now revealed, and utilized to aid in interpreting their behaviors and ascertaining their origins. New discoveries include the terdiurnal s = 2 and s = 4 components, and trapped nonmigrating diurnal tides with s = 0 and s = 2. The former are likely to arise from nonlinear interaction between the migrating (s = 3) terdiurnal tide and the stationary planetary wave with s = 1. The latter may reflect the presence of a longitude-dependent in situ heat source, or in situ nonlinear interaction between the migrating diurnal tide and a stationary planetary wave with s = 1. The present results provide a rich mixture of observational results to challenge both mechanistic and general circulation models of the middle atmosphere. In addition, internal consistency is established between the MLS tidal temperatures at 86 km and previously derived tidal winds at 95 km within the context of tidal theory. This result represents one step in the validation of measurements required for successful application of data-model assimilation techniques to the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

Calculating the Natural Atmospheric Radiation Using the General Circulation Model of the Earth’s Lower and Middle Atmosphere

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 803-815
Author(s):  
B. N. Chetverushkin ◽  
I. V. Mingalev ◽  
E. A. Fedotova ◽  
K. G. Orlov ◽  
V. M. Chechetkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation Model ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Atmospheric Radiation

scholarly journals On the short-term variability of turbulence and temperature in the winter mesosphere

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1099-1116
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Lehmacher ◽  
Miguel F. Larsen ◽  
Richard L. Collins ◽  
Aroh Barjatya ◽  
Boris Strelnikov
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Density Fluctuations ◽  
Large Temperature ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Wind Shears

Abstract. Four mesosphere–lower thermosphere temperature and turbulence profiles were obtained in situ within ∼30 min and over an area of about 100 by 100 km during a sounding rocket experiment conducted on 26 January 2015 at Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. In this paper we examine the spatial and temporal variability of mesospheric turbulence in relationship to the static stability of the background atmosphere. Using active payload attitude control, neutral density fluctuations, a tracer for turbulence, were observed with very little interference from the payload spin motion, and with high precision (<0.01 %) at sub-meter resolution. The large-scale vertical temperature structure was very consistent between the four soundings. The mesosphere was almost isothermal, which means more stratified, between 60 and 80 km, and again between 88 and 95 km. The stratified regions adjoined quasi-adiabatic regions assumed to be well mixed. Additional evidence of vertical transport and convective activity comes from sodium densities and trimethyl aluminum trail development, respectively, which were both observed simultaneously with the in situ measurements. We found considerable kilometer-scale temperature variability with amplitudes of 20 K in the stratified region below 80 km. Several thin turbulent layers were embedded in this region, differing in width and altitude for each profile. Energy dissipation rates varied between 0.1 and 10 mW kg−1, which is typical for the winter mesosphere. Very little turbulence was observed above 82 km, consistent with very weak small-scale gravity wave activity in the upper mesosphere during the launch night. On the other hand, above the cold and prominent mesopause at 102 km, large temperature excursions of +40 to +70 K were observed. Simultaneous wind measurements revealed extreme wind shears near 108 km, and combined with the observed temperature gradient, isolated regions of unstable Richardson numbers (0<Ri<0.25) were detected in the lower thermosphere. The experiment was launched into a bright auroral arc under moderately disturbed conditions (Kp∼5).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document