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Processes Controlling Water Vapor in the Winter Arctic Stratospheric MiddleworldWater vapor in the winter arctic stratospheric middleworld is import-an: for two reasons: (1) the arctic middleworld is a source of air for the upper Troposphere because of the generally downward motion, and thus its water vapor content helps determine upper tropospheric water, a critical part of the earth's radiation budget; and (2) under appropriate conditions, relative humidities will be large, even to the point of stratospheric cirrus cloud formation, leading to the production of active chlorine species that could destroy ozone. On a number of occasions during SOLVE, clouds were observed in the stratospheric middleworld by the DC-8 aircraft. These tended to coincide with regions of low temperatures, though some cases suggest water vapor enhancements due to troposphere-to-stratosphere transport. The goal of this work is to understand the importance of processes in and at the edge of the arctic stratospheric middleworld in determining water vapor at these levels. Specifically, is water vapor at these levels determined largely by the descent of air from above, or are clouds both within and at the edge of the stratospheric middleworld potentially important? How important is troposphere-to-stratosphere transport of air in determining stratospheric middleworld water vapor content? To this end, we will first examine the minimum saturation mixing ratios along theta/EPV tubes during the SOLVE winter and compare these with DC-8 water vapor observations. This will be a rough indicator of how high relative humidities can get, and the likelihood of cirrus cloud formation in various parts of the stratospheric middleworld. We will then examine saturation mixing ratios along both diabatic and adiabatic trajectories, comparing these values with actual aircraft water vapor observations, both in situ and remote. Finally, we will attempt to actually predict water vapor using minimum saturation mixing ratios along trajectories, cloud injection (derived from satellite imagery) along trajectories, and suitable initial conditions.
Document ID
20010074720
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pfister, Leonhard
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Selkirk, Henry
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Jensen, Eric
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Sachse, Glenn
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Podolske, James
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Schoeberl, Mark
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Browell, Edward
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Ismail, Syed
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Hipskind, R. Stephen
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 24, 2000
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: SOLVE: Theseo Science Team Meeting
Location: Palermo
Country: Italy
Start Date: June 25, 2000
End Date: June 29, 2000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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