Modelling the descent of nitric oxide during the elevated stratopause event of January 2013
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2017

Using simulations with a whole-atmosphere chemistry-climate model nudged by meteorological analyses, global satellite observations of nitrogen oxide (NO) and water vapour by the Sub-Millimetre Radiometer instrument (SMR), of temperature by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), as well as local radar observations, this study examines the recent major stratospheric sudden warming accompanied by an elevated stratopause event (ESE) that occurred in January 2013. We examine dynamical processes during the ESE, including the role of planetary wave, gravity wave and tidal forcing on the initiation of the descent in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) and its continuation throughout the mesosphere and stratosphere, as well as the impact of model eddy diffusion. We analyse the transport of NO and find the model underestimates the large descent of NO compared to SMR observations. We demonstrate that the discrepancy arises abruptly in the MLT region at a time when the resolved wave forcing and the planetary wave activity increase, just before the elevated stratopause reforms. The discrepancy persists despite doubling the model eddy diffusion. While the simulations reproduce an enhancement of the semi-diurnal tide following the onset of the 2013 SSW, corroborating new meteor radar observations at high northern latitudes over Trondheim (63.4°N), the modelled tidal contribution to the forcing of the mean meridional circulation and to the descent is a small portion of the resolved wave forcing, and lags it by about ten days.

Stratospheric sudden warming

Gravity waves

Middle atmospheric circulation

Nitric oxide

Planetary waves

Författare

Y. J. Orsolini

Norsk institutt for luftforskning (NILU)

Universitetet i Bergen

V. Limpasuvan

Coastal Carolina University

Kristell Perot

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Global miljömätteknik

P. J. Espy

Universitetet i Bergen

Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet

Robert Hibbins

Universitetet i Bergen

Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet

Stefan Lossow

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Katarina Raaholt Larsson

Student vid Chalmers

Donal Murtagh

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Global miljömätteknik

Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics

1364-6826 (ISSN)

Vol. 155 50-61

Påverkan av energiska partiklar på förändringar i atmosfärens sammansättning

Rymdstyrelsen (184/15), 2016-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.

Fundament

Grundläggande vetenskaper

Infrastruktur

Onsala rymdobservatorium

Ämneskategorier

Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik

DOI

10.1016/j.jastp.2017.01.006

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2022-04-04