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On the mean meridional mass motions of the stratosphere and mesosphereUsing a simplified, approximate 'Lagrangian-mean' dynamical formulation, the mean meridional mass circulation of the stratosphere and mesosphere is discussed. Under solstice conditions, it is shown that this Lagrangian-mean circulation may be inferred, as a first approximation, from the Eulerian-mean diabatic heating. Diabatic heating rates for the solstices, originally derived by Murgatroyd and Goody (1958), result in Lagrangian-mean rising motion at the tropical tropopause, subsidence across the extra-tropical tropopause, and a very strong summer-to-winter pole flow in the mesosphere. This circulation is exactly that obtained by Murgatroyd and Singleton (1961) for the solstices. Those authors, however, attempted to identify this circulation as the Eulerian-mean motion, and were later criticized for their neglect of the meridional eddy heat flux in the calculation, which proved to be extremely important in the winter hemisphere. The present study, nevertheless, indicates that Murgatroyd and Singleton's circulation may in fact be representative of actual air parcel motions in the stratosphere and mesosphere.
Document ID
19790036044
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Dunkerton, T.
(Washington, University Seattle, Wash., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1978
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 35
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
79A20057
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-2228
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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