Interhemispheric comparison of the development of the stratospheric polar vortex during fall - A 3-dimensional perspective for 1991-1992

The development of the stratospheric polar vortex during fall and early winter in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) during 1991-1992, and the Southern Hemisphere (SH) during 1992 is examined using National Meteorological Center data. Compared to the NH, the polar vortex in the SH developed with less variability on short time scales, deepened more rapidly and continued to expand well into winter. Daily minimum temperatures in the lower stratosphere were lowest at equivalent seasonal dates in both hemispheres, but values below the condensation temperatures of polar stratospheric clouds occurred earlier, persisted much longer, and occupied a larger volume of air in the SH. These interhemispheric meteorological differences can account for some of the key features of the chlorine monoxide distributions observed by the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite.