NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Intrusions into the lower stratospheric Arctic vortex during the winter of 1991-1992Investigations of the kinematics of the lower stratospheric Arctic vortex during the winter of 1991-1992 using the contour advection with surgery technique reveal three distinct events in which there was substantial intrusion of midlatitude air into the vortex, in apparent contradiction of the view that the polar vortex constitutes an isolated air mass. Two of these events, in late January and mid-February, were well documented. They were predicted in high-resolution forecasts by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, most clearly in experimental forecasts with reduced diffusion. Direct confirmation of the presence of the intrusions and of their calculated locations was provided by aerosol observations from the airborne differential absorption laser lidar aboard the NASA DC-8, taken as part of the second Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition campaign; aerosol-rich air of midlatitude origin was seen in the expected position of the intrusions. The reality of the February event was also confirmed by in situ measurements from the NASA ER-2. Such events may be significant for the chemical processes taking place within the winter vortex. The intrusions were evidently related to the meteorology of the northern stratosphere during this winter and in particular to persistent tropospheric blocking over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and western Europe and concomitant ridging into the lower stratospheric vortex in this region. Nevertheless, preliminary investigations have indicated that such events are not uncommon in other northern hemisphere winters, although no such events were found in the southern hemisphere during the Antarctic winter of 1987.
Document ID
19950031232
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Plumb, R. A.
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA United States)
Waugh, D. W.
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA United States)
Atkinson, R. J.
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA United States)
Newman, P. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lait, L. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Schoeberl, M. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Browell, E. V.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Simmons, A. J.
(European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reading, United Kingdom)
Loewenstein, M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 20, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: D1
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
95A62831
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1727
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available