Open AccessConvective and wave signatures in ozone profiles over the equatorial Americas: Views from TC4 2007 and SHADOZ
Author(s) -
Thompson Anne M.,
MacFarlane Alaina M.,
Morris Gary A.,
Yorks John E.,
Miller Sonya K.,
Taubman Brett F.,
Verver Gé,
Vömel Holger,
Avery Melody A.,
Hair Johnathan W.,
Diskin Glenn S.,
Browell Edward V.,
Canossa Jéssica Valverde,
Kucsera Tom L.,
Klich Christopher A.,
Hlavka Dennis L.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2009jd012909
Subject(s) - rossby wave , tropopause , convection , geology , climatology , troposphere , tropical cyclogenesis , kelvin wave , atmospheric sciences , oceanography , meteorology , geography , cyclone (programming language) , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware
During the TC4 (Tropical Composition, Clouds, and Climate Coupling) campaign in July–August 2007, daily ozonesondes were launched over coastal Las Tablas, Panamá (7.8°N, 80°W) and several times per week at Alajuela, Costa Rica (10°N, 84°W). Wave activity, detected most prominently in 100–300 m thick ozone laminae in the tropical tropopause layer, occurred in 50% (Las Tablas) and 40% (Alajuela) of the soundings. These layers, associated with vertical displacements and classified as gravity waves (GW, possibly Kelvin waves) by laminar identification, occur with similar structure and frequency over the Paramaribo (5.8°N, 55°W) and San Cristóbal (0.92°S, 90°W) Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes (SHADOZ) sites. GW‐labeled laminae in individual soundings correspond to cloud outflow as indicated by DC‐8 tracers and other aircraft data, confirming convective initiation of equatorial waves. Layers representing quasi‐horizontal displacements, referred to as Rossby waves by the laminar technique, are robust features in soundings from 23 July to 5 August. The features associated with Rossby waves correspond to extratropical influence, possibly stratospheric, and sometimes to pollution transport. Comparison of Las Tablas and Alajuela ozone budgets with 1999–2007 Paramaribo and San Cristóbal soundings shows that TC4 is typical of climatology for the equatorial Americas. Overall during TC4, convection and associated waves appear to dominate ozone transport in the tropical tropopause layer; intrusions from the extratropics occur throughout the free troposphere.