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The QBO as Potential Amplifier and Conduit to Lower Altitudes of Solar Cycle InfluenceIn several papers, the solar cycle (SC) effect in the lower atmosphere has been linked to the Quasi-biennial Oscillation (QBO), which is generated primarily by small-scale gravity waves. Salby and Callaghan (2000) analyzed the observed zonal winds of the QBO over more than 40 years and found that it contains a relatively large SC signature at 20 km. Following up on an earlier 2D study with our global-scale Numerical Spectral Model (NSM), we discuss here a 3D study with the QBO under the influence of the SC. For a SC period of 10 years, the amplitude of the relative variations of radiative forcing is taken to vary for simplicity from 0.2% at the surface to 2% at 50 km to 20% at 100 km and above. Covering a limited time span of 40 years, this model produces in the lower stratosphere a relatively large modulation of the QBO, which appears to be related to the SC and is in qualitative agreement with the observations. Some of the energy in the QBO, confined to low latitudes primarily, is redistributed globally by the meridional circulation and planetary waves presumably, so that a measurable SC modulation is generated in the tropospheric temperatures of the polar regions. Further studies are needed, (1) to determine whether the effect is real and prevails in more extensive simulations and whether the results are robust when shorter integration steps are employed, and (2) to explore the mechanism(s) that may ample the apparent SC influence of the UV radiation extending into the lower atmosphere. Quasi-decadal oscillations, generated internally by the QBO interacting with the seasonal cycles, may interfere with or aid the SC effect.
Document ID
20050147490
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mayr, Hans G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mengel, John G.
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Porter, Hayden S.
(Furman Univ. Greenville, SC, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Spring 2005 AGU Meeting
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 23, 2005
End Date: May 27, 2005
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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