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Trajectory Hunting: A Case Study of Rapid Chlorine Activation in December 1992 as Seen by UARSTrajectory hunting (i.e., a technique to find air parcels sampled at least twice over the course of a few days) is applied to analyze Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) measurements in conjunction with the Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. (AER) photochemical box model. As a case study, we investigate rapid chlorine activation in the Arctic lower stratosphere on December 29, 1992 associated with a polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) event. Eleven air parcels that have been sampled several times along five-day trajectories at the 465 K (approx. 46 hPa), 520 K (approx. 31 hPa), and 585 K (approx. 22 hPa) levels were investigated. For the first time, the latest versions of the Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES, version 9) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS, version 5) data sets are analyzed, and their consistency is assessed. A detailed sensitivity study with the AER photochemical box model along these trajectories leads to the conclusion that for the December 24-29, 1992 episode: (1) the individual CLAES ClONO2 and MLS ClO measurements are self-consistent within their uncertainties; and (2) most of the time, UARS measurements of ClO, ClONO2, HNO3, and aerosol extinction at 780 cm(exp -1) agree within the range of their uncertainties with the model calculations. It appears that the HNO3 and aerosol extinction measurements for four parcels at 520 K look more supportive for the nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) scheme, However, the uncertainties in the individual UARS measurements and UK Meteorological Office temperature do not allow a definite discrimination between the NAT and supercooled ternary solution (STS) PSC schemes for this chlorine activation episode in December 1992.
Document ID
20010066722
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Danilin, M. Y.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Cambridge, MA United States)
Santee, M. L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Rodriguez, J. M.
(Miami Univ. FL United States)
Ko, M. K. W.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Cambridge, MA United States)
Mergenthaler, J. M.
(Lockheed Martin Palo Alto Research Lab. Palo Alto, CA United States)
Kumer, J. B.
(Lockheed Martin Palo Alto Research Lab. Palo Alto, CA United States)
Tabazadeh, A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Livesey, N. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
February 16, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 105
Issue: D3
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
Paper-1999JD901054
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-98131
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-97039
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-32844
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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