Midstratospheric circulations in the southern hemisphere from super pressure balloon trajectories

Three instrumented super pressure balloons were flown throughout the southern hemisphere at 18 mbar, over a period of five months. The balloon trajectories, reconstructed from NIMBUS 6 satellite location data, have proved to be valuable indicators of midstratospheric structure and dynamics in the Lagrangian frame of reference. Several examples of high zonal and meridional winds are reported. Also shown in the analysis is a feature encountered between 30 S-40 S during a two-week period. The feature appears to be a breakdown of large-scale zonal flow and its replacement by weak cyclonic eddies. During the observational period the balloon motions document the spring reversal. Mean zonal wind speed analysis from balloon positions were obtained covering the area 15 S-65 S. The results presented here are in substantial agreement with those of Hartmann (1977).