The stratospheric circulation Alan Plumb M. I. T

The stratospheric circulationThe stratospheric circulation

Alan Plumb

M. I. T.

Global Meridional Circulation

UARS (HALOE) observationsUARS (HALOE) observations

UARS (HALOE) observations

UARS (HALOE) observations

50hPa analysis 28 Jan 1992

10-day integrated tracer field

vortex

entrained tropical air

midlatitude “surf zone”

12-day contour advection at 480K

(Waugh & Plumb, JAS, 1994.)

50hPa analysis

Gyroscopic stabilityand “wave pumping” of the circulation

v a F vq

vq 0

Global Meridional Circulation

polar descent

Global Meridional Circulation

Arena Arctica, Kiruna, Mar 2000

NASA ER2 at Kiruna, Mar 2000

NASA DC8 in Arena Arctica, Jan 2000

OMS balloon launch, Esrange, Mar 2000

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0

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z(km

)

-90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90latitude

01 Jan 2000

-90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90latitude

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z(km

)

31 Mar 2000

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N2O, CO, mesotracer (ppbv)

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pot t

emp

(K)

Model vs. Mark IV data

16 March 2000

CO

mesotracer

N2O

(obs) N2O

(model)

Polar Descent

(Plumb et al., JGR, 2002.)

The “gravity wave pump”

polar descent