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Evolution of the Southern Hemisphere subpolar middle atmosphere during summer and autumnThe evolution of zonal wind and zonal wavenumber one (wave 1) in the Southern Hemisphere subpolar middle atmosphere is described for the period December 1978 - May 1979 using temperature and ozone measurements from the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment. In late December maximum zonal easterlies of approx. -70 m/s are observed at 0.1 mb, 60 deg S. A zonal flow reversal occurs during late February and westerlies subsequently increase to 60-70 m/s in the upper stratosphere by April - May. LIMS zonal winds are compared with rocketsonde measurements and nadir sounder (derived) winds for summer and autumn. Although quantitative agreement is found at stratospheric levels, substantial discrepancies are evident in the mesosphere, most likely a reflection of sampling and resolution differences in the respective datasets. Stationary and traveling wave 1 temperature disturbances (amplitudes approx. 1 - 2 K at 60 deg S) are observed by LIMS during summer. The stationary wave is confined to the lower stratosphere near the level of zero zonal- mean wind flow, whereas the traveling wave is prominent in the middle stratosphere moves west at a rate similar to the zonal-mean wind, and exhibits a vertical - meridional structure similar to a P(sub 4)(sup 1) normal mode Rossby wave. A substantial intensification of wave 1 activity occurs during autumn (amplitudes approx. 5 - 10 K), which is found to be associated with an upward-directed Eliasse - Palm flux near the subpolar tropopause level. Evidence relating wave 1 activity in the lower - middle stratosphere to the occurrence of zonal ozone perturbations of 10% - 20% amplitude is presented for summer and autumn.
Document ID
19950033273
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Miles, T.
(Hughes STX Corp. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Grose, W. L.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Remsberg, E. E.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Lingenfelser, G.
(Science Application International Corp. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 51
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0022-4928
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
95A64872
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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